Key Facts
• On January 30, Israeli authorities announced Rafah crossing reopening on February 1.
• Rafah crossing closed since Israeli military control in May 2024.
• Only people movement permitted; Hamas demands unrestricted goods entry.
• Entry to Gaza requires EU and Israeli military inspections.
• Only those who left Gaza after October 2023 conflict can enter.
• Israel wants daily entry capped at about 150 people.
• Israel demands more people exit Gaza than enter; Egypt disagrees.
• Post-October 2023 ceasefire increased aid but building materials remain restricted.
• Many Gaza residents still live in tents due to slow reconstruction.
• International Red Cross calls for easing import restrictions for infrastructure recovery.
• Rafah reopening delayed until Hamas returned all hostages; last remains received January 26.
Summary
Israeli authorities announced the reopening of the Rafah crossing between Gaza and Egypt on February 1, 2026, after being closed since May 2024 following Israeli military control. The crossing will allow only the movement of people, with goods remaining restricted despite Hamas’s calls for unrestricted imports. Entry into Gaza will be tightly controlled through inspections by the European Union and Israeli military, limited to those who left Gaza after the October 2023 conflict began. Israel aims to limit daily entries to about 150 people and insists on more people exiting Gaza than entering, a point of contention with Egypt. Although aid shipments have increased since the ceasefire, restrictions on construction materials hinder Gaza’s reconstruction, leaving many residents in tents. The reopening was contingent on Hamas returning all hostages, fulfilled with the receipt of the last remains on January 26. The International Red Cross emphasizes the need to ease import restrictions to restore infrastructure.
