Pedestrians are due to begin crossing the Rafah border between the Gaza Strip and Egypt on Monday, after the crossing was largely closed for nearly two years following Israel’s seizure of the Palestinian side.
The reopening, long demanded by the United Nations and aid organisations, forms a key element of the second phase of US President Donald Trump’s truce plan for Gaza.
AFP outlines what is known about this critical border crossing.
Vital access point
Israel’s Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT) said the crossing would initially be open only to allow the movement of “residents in both directions”.
AFP images showed ambulances lined up on the Egyptian side, preparing to receive medical evacuees, who are expected to be among the first permitted to leave Gaza.
The Rafah crossing—often described as Gaza’s “lifeline”—is the only border point for the territory that does not pass through Israel.
It is now located in an area held by Israeli forces following their withdrawal behind the so-called “Yellow Line” under the terms of the US-brokered ceasefire.
For many years, Rafah was the main exit for Palestinians authorised to leave Gaza, which has been under an Israeli blockade since 2007.
Between 2005 and 2007, it was the first Palestinian border terminal run by the Palestinian Authority. After Hamas seized control of Gaza, it became a symbol of the group’s authority over the territory.
Under Israeli control
On 7 May 2024, Israeli forces took control of the Palestinian side of the crossing, claiming it was being “used for terrorist purposes”.
Since then, most access points — including those used by the United Nations — have remained largely closed.
Rafah briefly reopened for medical evacuations during a short-lived ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in January last year.
Israel has said it will carry out “security clearance” for individuals entering or leaving Gaza. The crossing is expected to be administered by a 15-member Palestinian technocratic body.
The National Committee for the Administration of Gaza is also awaiting Israeli approval to enter the territory.
No agreement has yet been reached on how many Palestinians will be allowed through, though sources say Egypt plans to accept “all Palestinians authorised by Israel to leave”.
According to the Palestinian embassy in Cairo, those returning to Gaza will be allowed only limited luggage, no metal or electronic items, and restricted quantities of medication.
EU–Palestinian mission
COGAT said an “initial pilot phase” began on Sunday “in coordination with the European Union Border Assistance Mission (EUBAM), Egypt and all relevant stakeholders ”.
It added that full movement of residents in both directions would begin once preliminary arrangements were complete.
The Palestinian side of the crossing is expected to be managed by EUBAM alongside a delegation from the Palestinian Authority.
The EU established a civilian monitoring mission at Rafah in 2005, but it was suspended two years later after Hamas took control of Gaza.
The mission, which includes police officers from Italy, Spain and France, aims to provide a neutral third-party presence. It was briefly redeployed in January last year before being suspended again in March.
Sources at the crossing told AFP that both EUBAM personnel and the Palestinian Authority delegation have now arrived.
Aid entry
Trump’s plan, which underpins the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas, calls for the reopening of Rafah and the entry of 600 aid lorries a day.
However, aid organisations say Israeli authorities have delayed implementation, leaving humanitarian assistance insufficient.
Most international aid is routed from Egypt through Rafah before being redirected to the nearby Israeli-controlled Kerem Shalom crossing, which currently handles around three-quarters of aid entering Gaza.
Drivers leave their vehicles, which are then subjected to strict Israeli inspections before being unloaded and transferred to other lorries authorised to enter Gaza.
Two aid officials on the Egyptian side told AFP on Thursday that Israel has continued to obstruct deliveries, sending back “dozens” of lorries without allowing them to unload.
Other crossings have operated in the past, but Israeli authorities have not said whether they will reopen them.
