Rafah border crossing begins operation

The Rafah land crossing began operating on Monday, with a number of Palestinians arriving on the Egyptian side of the crossing to prepare for entry into the Gaza Strip, Palestinian sources said.

The limited operation followed an initial trial phase conducted on Sunday and comes as part of the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas, according to the sources.

Several Egyptian buses carrying around 50 Palestinians arrived at the terminal, where official procedures began for their return to Gaza, according to Palestinian sources.

The sources and eyewitnesses said coordination is underway among Egyptian authorities, the Palestinian side and the European Union Border Assistance Mission to facilitate the process.

Relevant authorities were ready on the Egyptian side to provide logistical and medical support for arriving Palestinians, according to a well-informed source who spoke on condition of anonymity.

Egyptian ambulances were seen on standby to transport wounded and ill Palestinians from the Gaza Strip to hospitals in North Sinai for medical treatment.

Hospitals in North Sinai will serve as the primary destination for Palestinian patients and injured individuals, according to Egypt's state-affiliated Al Qahera News TV.

Meanwhile, the Gaza-based health authorities said that arrangements for the departure of patients and wounded individuals from the Gaza Strip had not begun.

Raed Al-Nams, spokesman for the Palestinian Red Crescent Society in Gaza, said that "so far, no information or details have reached us regarding the evacuation of patients or injured people from the Gaza Strip through the Rafah crossing."

Israeli media reports said the crossing is expected to remain open until 3:00 p.m. local time (1300 GMT).

Under the current arrangements, about 150 Palestinians are expected to be allowed to leave the Gaza Strip daily, while 50 Palestinians will be permitted to enter Gaza from Egypt per day, according to Israeli media outlets.

Israeli authorities will receive a daily list with the names of 50 individuals seeking entry into Gaza, who will be subject to security screening before being allowed to enter the following day, according to the reports.

Egyptian authorities will receive a daily list of 150 Palestinians requesting departure from the Gaza Strip, with Cairo retaining the authority to approve or reject these requests.

The Rafah crossing has been almost completely closed since Israeli forces took control of it in May 2024, a move that effectively isolated the Gaza Strip from the outside world and deteriorated the humanitarian situation in the Palestinian enclave.