Israel agrees to limited reopening of Rafah border crossing in Gaza

2026-02-02 - 12:45

Tens of thousands of ill and wounded Palestinians await evacuation as diplomatic efforts inch forward Middle East crisis – live updates The Rafah border crossing between Gaza and Egypt has been reopened by Israel for a limited number of people on foot, as fragile diplomatic efforts to stabilise the conflict inch forward. Israeli forces took control of the Rafah crossing – Gaza’s only crossing not shared with Israel – in May 2024, describing it as necessary to prevent weapons smuggling by Hamas. The move isolated the territory, cutting off a critical lifeline for Palestinians seeking access to medical care, travel and trade. Continue reading...