The Zionist occupation authorities have announced that the Rafah crossing between Gaza and Egypt will reopen on February 1st, following a closure that has lasted nearly two years.
The Rafah crossing is the sole gateway for Palestinians to exit Gaza without traversing through Zionist-controlled territory. It has remained closed since May 2024. The reopening of the crossing was a stipulated condition in the ceasefire agreement enacted on October 10th, aimed at halting the genocidal aggression against Gaza that began in October 2023. However, the occupation forces have consistently failed to uphold this provision until now.
COGAT, a unit of the Zionist defense ministry, stated that the crossing would reopen under specific regulations, strictly for civilian use. The movement of commercial goods through this point remains prohibited. Individuals seeking to use the crossing will be required to obtain security clearance from the occupation authorities, with all border movements coordinated between the occupation and Egypt. Furthermore, the European Union Border Assistance Mission is expected to oversee operations, reflecting the protocols implemented when the crossing was briefly operational in January 2025.
The occupation authorities further specified that only individuals who fled Gaza during the ongoing conflict will be permitted to return via Egypt and the Rafah crossing. This opportunity will not be extended to those who exited prior to the current conflict. Any individual returning must undergo rigorous security vetting and additional screening processes, over which the Zionist occupation maintains absolute control.
Despite this announcement, the occupation continues to block the adequate entry of humanitarian aid and essential goods into Gaza. As the Palestinian people endure the hardships of winter, the lack of basic necessities has further exacerbated the dire humanitarian crisis. International organizations, including the United Nations, continue to demand that the occupation authorities open all routes to allow the unhindered flow of life-saving aid into Gaza.
