Overview
- Israel’s COGAT announced that Rafah will reopen Wednesday for restricted movement of people in both directions.
- Operations will follow the previous mechanism with prior Israeli approval, coordination with Egypt, oversight by the European Union mission, and additional screening on the Regavim route in an area under IDF control.
- Rafah was largely closed in May 2024, reopened in February 2026, and shut again at the start of the war involving Iran.
- The closure halted a crucial pathway for medical evacuations, with some thousands leaving via Israel last year while thousands more still require care abroad, according to the United Nations.
- Palestinian authorities say about 100,000 people have departed Gaza since the offensive began, through humanitarian sponsorships or by paying intermediaries in Egypt.