GAZA BORDER CROSSING SEES SURGE IN ACTIVITY AFTER YEARS OF NEAR-TOTAL CLOSURE. (PHOTO).

 Gaza border crossing sees surge in activity after years of near-total closure

 Gaza’s Rafah border crossing with Egypt saw significant activity Sunday as Israel announced that limited travel in and out of the territory would resume for the first time in years, marking a key step in the ongoing Israel-Hamas ceasefire. The crossing, largely closed since Israel seized control in May 2024, opened on a trial basis as Israeli authorities prepared it for fuller operation, with residents expected to begin passing through once final preparations are complete.

Palestinian security personnel crossed the Egyptian gate to coordinate with an EU mission that will oversee entry and exit, while ambulances also passed through, according to an Egyptian official. The head of Gaza’s newly formed Palestinian administrative committee said travel in both directions is scheduled to begin Monday. Initially, only a small number of people will be allowed to cross, and no goods will move through the checkpoint. About 20,000 Palestinians, including children and adults needing medical care, hope to leave war-damaged Gaza, while thousands outside the territory hope to return home.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said that 50 patients a day will be permitted to leave Gaza, each accompanied by up to two relatives, while approximately 50 Palestinians who fled during the war will be allowed to return daily. Israel and Egypt will vet travelers, and the crossing will be supervised by EU border patrol agents, with the number of travelers expected to rise over time if the process runs smoothly.

Rafah has historically been the main gateway for Palestinians traveling in and out of Gaza, though Gaza also has four other crossings, all controlled in part by Israel. The crossing was briefly reopened in early 2025 to allow medical evacuations during a temporary ceasefire. The current reopening comes after Israel recovered the remains of the last hostage held in Gaza, clearing the way for the next phase of the U.S.-brokered ceasefire agreement that took effect Oct. 10, 2025.

The first phase of the truce focused on the exchange of hostages, increased humanitarian aid, and partial Israeli troop withdrawals. The second phase, which includes the reopening of Rafah, is more complex and involves establishing a new Palestinian governing committee, deploying an international security force, disarming Hamas, and beginning reconstruction efforts. Egypt has emphasized that the crossing must allow both entry and exit to prevent displacement, while Israel maintains security control over the area between Rafah and the main Palestinian population centers.