Gaza’s only gateway to the outside world—aside from heavily controlled access through Israel—has cracked open, but barely. The Rafah crossing with Egypt partially reopened on Monday, May 27, 2024, allowing a trickle of Palestinians to return to the war-torn territory, sparking scenes of both relief and frustration.
A Fragile Reopening: Rafah Crossing Offers Limited Hope for Gaza
The limited resumption of operations at the Rafah crossing provides a small measure of hope for Palestinians, but falls far short of the humanitarian needs of the devastated region.
- The Rafah crossing, Gaza’s primary link to the outside world excluding Israel, reopened partially on May 27, 2024, after being largely closed since May 2024.
- Only about two dozen people crossed in both directions on the first day, significantly less than the anticipated 200.
- Egypt has reportedly insisted on a balance between those entering and exiting Gaza, raising concerns about restrictions on returns.
- Gaza’s healthcare system is overwhelmed, with an estimated 20,000 patients urgently needing treatment, including 4,500 children.
Palestinians wept with joy as buses carrying returnees arrived at Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis late Monday night, with crowds filming the arrivals on their phones and lifting children to catch a glimpse of loved ones. But the elation was tempered by the painfully slow pace of the reopening.
Q: What is the current situation at the Rafah crossing?
A: The Rafah crossing has partially reopened, allowing a limited number of Palestinians to return to Gaza from Egypt, but the flow of people is significantly restricted, with far fewer crossing than expected.
“We were exhausted from this humiliating journey,” said Rotana al-Riqib, a Palestinian woman in her thirties who had been in Egypt. “The Israelis took us to the crossing – me, my mother and another woman from Khan Younis – and interrogated us. They don’t let us bring in anything. They confiscated everything we had, even my children’s belongings. They only left us some clothes.”
The crossing had been largely shuttered since Israeli forces took control in May 2024 amid Israel’s military operations in Gaza. While officials had hoped for around 200 crossings in both directions on Monday, only approximately two dozen people were processed—a stark indication of the constraints in place, according to sources on both sides.
“They don’t want a large number of people to return to Gaza,” al-Riqib added. “Rather, they want a large number to leave.”
Egypt has consistently voiced opposition to the forced displacement of Palestinians from Gaza and has reportedly requested that the number of people entering and exiting the territory each day be equal. This demand suggests a concern that the reopening could be used to facilitate an exodus of Palestinians.
Ali Shaath, head of a Palestinian committee overseeing Gaza’s governance, described the reopening as a “window of hope” for the territory, which has been devastated by months of conflict.
However, the reality on the ground painted a different picture. While 150 people were scheduled to depart Gaza and 50 to enter on Monday, only 12 Palestinians—nine women and three children—were permitted to return from Egypt, according to Gaza’s Interior Ministry and border officials. Eight people departed Gaza, the ministry reported, while an Egyptian border source counted 12 individuals—five injured people and seven companions—entering Egypt.
“Things were very difficult, and inspections were taking place everywhere,” said Samira Said after returning through Rafah.
For the many Gazans in desperate need of medical care, the crossing represents a potential lifeline to Egyptian hospitals. Mohammed Abu Salmiya, director of Gaza City’s al-Shifa Hospital, reported that 20,000 patients urgently require treatment, including 4,500 children.
Umm Mohammed Abu Shaqfa, 37, a Gaza City resident whose 11-year-old daughter requires treatment unavailable in the occupied Palestinian territory, expressed cautious optimism. “We are still waiting to travel through the Rafah crossing for treatment in Egypt. Opening the crossing is a glimmer of hope. Every day, I go to the Ministry of Health office and the World Health Organization to check if my daughter’s name is on the list.”
While the Rafah crossing is vital for the movement of both people and supplies, COGAT, the Israeli Defence Ministry body coordinating Palestinian civilian affairs, has not indicated any plans to substantially increase the flow of aid into Gaza.
Do you have thoughts on the reopening of the Rafah crossing? Share your perspective in the comments below.
