Israel Reopens Rafah Crossing Between Gaza and Egypt for Limited Travel

The Rafah border crossing between Gaza and Egypt partially reopened on Thursday, March 19, 2026, allowing a limited number of humanitarian cases to travel for medical treatment.

“Egyptian state media and a Red Crescent official announced the reopening of the Rafah crossing between the Gaza Strip and Egypt today, Thursday, for the first time since the outbreak of the Israeli-American war on Iran”

Al-Jazeera Net

This marked the first movement through the crossing since it was shut on February 28 amid escalating regional tensions linked to Israeli-American strikes on Iran.

Al-Jazeera Net

Palestinian and Egyptian media reported that the crossing reopened 'in both directions,' facilitating both outbound medical cases and the return of stranded Palestinians.

Egypt's state-affiliated Al-Kahera News aired footage showing Palestinians preparing to cross from both sides of the border.

An Egyptian Red Crescent official confirmed that the reopening would allow Palestinian patients to cross into Egypt and stranded Palestinians to return to Gaza.

Ambulances were seen waiting to receive patients exiting the devastated Palestinian territory.

The Rafah crossing has been a flashpoint in the ongoing Gaza genocide, with Israel's army taking control of the crossing on the Palestinian side during its offensive in the Gaza Strip in May 2024.

The crossing has been closed almost continuously since Israel's takeover nearly two years ago.

blue News

The crossing had briefly reopened on February 2 for limited movement but was shut again on February 28 when Israel closed all crossings after the Israeli-American strikes on Iran began.

The Israeli government described the closure as a 'necessary security measure.'

The EU deployed its border assistance mission (EUBAM) to Rafah in early February to monitor the crossing.

The Kerem Shalom crossing for aid deliveries had already been reopened for goods traffic on March 3, connecting the Gaza Strip with Israel while the Rafah crossing remained closed for human traffic.

Despite the reopening, movement through Rafah remains tightly controlled and severely restricted.

“Gaza City: The Rafah border crossing between the Gaza Strip and Egypt reopened partially on Thursday, March 19, allowing a small number of humanitarian cases, including patients and their companions, to travel for medical treatment, according to Palestinian and Egyptian media reports”

The Siasat Daily

Israeli authorities dictate who can pass through the crossing under strict conditions requiring Israeli security approval and coordination with Egypt.

Palestinian authorities reported that only eight patients, accompanied by 17 companions, were approved to leave Gaza on Thursday under coordination involving the World Health Organization.

This highlights the extremely limited scope of the reopening despite overwhelming humanitarian need.

Incoming travellers must undergo additional screening inside Gaza in an area controlled by the Israeli army, according to COGAT.

The crossing is operating under security protocols that include monitoring by the European Union's border mission.

The reopening comes amid a catastrophic humanitarian crisis in Gaza, where estimates suggest that between 18,000 and 23,000 wounded and chronically ill Palestinians require urgent treatment abroad.

This need arises due to the collapse of Gaza's healthcare system after months of indiscriminate Israeli bombing and killing of civilians.

TRT World

For many sick and injured Gazans, Rafah has been a crucial route to medical care in Egypt and one of the few means for separated families to reunite.

Yet the limited operations have resulted in fewer than 700 people being able to cross Rafah since they resumed earlier this year.

This creates a massive gap between humanitarian needs and actual access.

A correspondent for the Palestinian WAFA News Agency reported that a group of patients departed from the Palestinian Red Crescent Society in Khan Younis after completing documentation procedures, but such movements represent only a tiny fraction of those in desperate need.

The reopening process has been marked by shifting decisions and Israeli security concerns.

“Egyptian state media and a Red Crescent official announced the reopening of the Rafah crossing between the Gaza Strip and Egypt today, Thursday, for the first time since the outbreak of the Israeli-American war on Iran”

Al-Jazeera Net

Israeli authorities had initially indicated that the crossing would reopen on Wednesday, March 18, but the move was delayed without clear explanation before finally occurring on Thursday.

Al-Jazeera Net

Officials later cited security concerns, including alleged attempts to smuggle prohibited materials through aid shipments, as justification for the restrictions and the delayed reopening.

This reflects Israel's ongoing control over Gaza's borders and movement.

Travel through the crossing is described as resuming 'in coordination with Egypt, subject to Israeli security approval and monitored by the European Union's border mission.'

This indicates the complex international and security dynamics that continue to govern even limited humanitarian access to the besieged Palestinian territory.