Israel reopens Gaza's Rafah crossing to limited foot traffic

Israel has partially reopened the Rafah crossing, a crucial gateway between Gaza and Egypt, which had been largely closed for over 18 months. The crossing was opened to limited foot traffic, although the exact number of individuals permitted to cross has not been disclosed. The reopening is part of a US-brokered ceasefire agreement, and operations at the crossing are expected to commence fully on Monday, according to the Israeli Ministry of Defence body, COGAT (Reuters, France24). On the first day of its reopening, only 12 Palestinians were reported to have entered Gaza through the Rafah crossing, while five patients and their escorts were allowed to leave for Egypt (Al Jazeera). This reopening provides a rare opportunity for many Palestinians, including patients, students, and displaced families, who have been waiting for months to cross for medical treatment, education, and aid. The Gaza health ministry has indicated that approximately 20,000 people are currently waiting to leave for care (France24). Despite the reopening, access remains highly restricted, with Israel continuing to control the Palestinian side of the crossing. Humanitarian aid flows into Gaza are still extremely limited, and there is no indication from COGAT regarding a significant increase in aid supplies (France24). The situation underscores the ongoing challenges faced by Palestinians in Gaza, as the reopening of Rafah does not fully address the humanitarian needs of the population.