Reopening of Gaza's Rafah crossing expected Monday, officials say

Rafah crossing in Gaza is set to reopen Monday for Palestinians, enabling crucial medical evacuations and humanitarian aid access.

Gaza's main border crossing in Rafah will reopen for ‌Palestinians on Monday (February 2, 2026), Israel said, with preparations underway at the war-ravaged enclave's main gateway that ​has been largely shut for almost two years.

Before the war, the Rafah border crossing with Egypt was the only direct exit point for most Gazans to reach the outside world as well as a key entry point for aid into the territory. It has been largely shut since May 2024 and under Israeli military control on the Gazan side.

COGAT, the Israeli military unit that oversees humanitarian coordination, said the crossing will reopen in both directions for Gaza residents on foot only and its operation ​will be coordinated with Egypt and the European Union.

"Today, a pilot is underway to test ⁠and assess the operation of the crossing. The movement of residents in both directions, entry and exit to and from Gaza, is expected to begin tomorrow," COGAT said in a statement.

A Palestinian official and a European source close to the EU mission confirmed ​the details. The Egyptian Foreign Ministry did not ⁠immediately respond to a request for comment.

Israel has said the crossing would open under stringent security checks only for Palestinians who wish to leave the war-ravaged enclave and for those who fled the fighting in the first months of the war to return.