Extract from ABC News
Trucks carrying humanitarian aid are lined up, waiting to enter the Egyptian gate of the Rafah crossing. (AP: Mohamed Arafat)
In short:
Palestinian security officers and ambulances have passed through the Rafah border crossing, a day before limited travel is set to resume.
The Israeli military have said a limited number of Gazan's will be able to pass through the crossing on Monday, after it has been nearly wholly closed since May 2024.
What's next?
About 20,000 Palestinian's needing medical care are hoping to leave Gaza via the crossing, and thousands of other Palestinians outside the territory hope to return home.
Gaza's Rafah border crossing with Egypt has shown signs of activity, a day before it is set to reopen after being almost wholly closed since May 2024.
Palestinian security officers and ambulances passed through the crossing's Egyptian gate on Sunday, an Egyptian official, who spoke on condition of anonymity said.
COGAT, the Israeli military agency that controls aid to Gaza, said in a statement that residents of Gaza would begin to pass through the crossing on Monday.
Ambulances lined up to enter the Egyptian gate of the Rafah crossing on their way to the Gaza Strip on Sunday, Feb 1, 2026. (AP: Mohamed Arafat)
Although Gaza has four other border crossings, they are shared with Israel, many Palestinians see Rafah as their gateway to the world.
Before the war, Rafah was the main crossing for people moving in and out of Gaza, but in May 2024 Israeli troops seized and closed the crossing.
Since then it has been almost wholly closed, other than briefly opening for the evacuation of medical patients during a ceasefire in early 2025.
Israel had resisted reopening the crossing
Under the ceasefire terms, Israel's military controls the area between the Rafah crossing and the zone where most Palestinians live.
Israel had resisted reopening the Rafah crossing, but the recovery of the remains of the last hostage in Gaza last week cleared the way to move forward.
A truck carrying humanitarian aids enters the Egyptian gate of the Rafah crossing, heading for inspection by Israeli authorities before entering the Gaza Strip. (AP: Mohamed Arafat)
Fearing that Israel could use the crossing to push Palestinians out of the enclave, Egypt has repeatedly said it must be open for both entry to and exit from Gaza.
Historically, Israel and Egypt have vetted Palestinians applying to cross. they will continue to do so while being supervised by European Union border patrol agents.
At first, few people will be allowed to cross at Rafah, and no goods will be allowed over the border.
European Union border patrol agents will supervise entry and exits at the crossing. (AP: Mohamed Arafat)
The number of travellers is expected to increase over time if the system is successful.
50 patients allowed to leave per day
About 20,000 Palestinian children and adults needing medical care are hoping to leave war-devastated Gaza via the crossing, and thousands of other Palestinians outside the territory hope to return home.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said Israel will allow 50 patients a day to leave through the crossing.
An official involved in the discussions, speaking on condition of anonymity, said each patient would be allowed to travel with two relatives.
Meanwhile, 50 people who left Gaza during the war would be allowed to return each day.
Thousands of Palestinian's needing medical care are hoping to leave war-devastated Gaza via the crossing. (AP: Mohamed Arafat)
Israel says it will stop work of Doctors without Borders in Gaza
"MSF will cease its operations and depart the Gaza Strip by February 28, 2026," the ministry said in a statement, using an acronym for organisations French name Médecins Sans Frontières.
The organisation had no immediate comment in response, but on Friday it wrote on X that it had finalised its decision not to share staff lists.
Doctors Without Borders is one of over two dozen humanitarian organisations Israel suspended from operating in the Gaza Strip because of failure or refusal to comply with the new requirements.
Independent NGOs play a major role in propping up Gaza's health sector, devastated by two years of Israeli bombardment and restrictions on supplies.
Doctors without Borders has said that Israel's decision will have a catastrophic impact on its work in Gaza, where it funds six hospitals, two field hospitals, eight health clinics and two stabilisation centres helping children with severe malnutrition.
AP
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