What's happened
After nearly two years of closure, the Rafah crossing between Gaza and Egypt has partially reopened, allowing a limited number of Palestinians to leave for medical treatment and family reunification. The process remains tightly controlled, with slow progress and ongoing Israeli restrictions, highlighting the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
What's behind the headline?
The reopening of Rafah marks a significant, yet limited, step toward easing Gaza's humanitarian crisis. Despite the partial access, the slow pace of evacuations and continued Israeli security checks underscore the ongoing control and restrictions that effectively serve as collective punishment. The process exposes the systemic use of movement restrictions as a tool of siege, with the Israeli military exercising full control over crossings and internal access. The slow medical evacuations—only 459 patients since the reopening—highlight the failure to meet urgent healthcare needs, with thousands still stranded. The ongoing Israeli attacks, despite the ceasefire, reveal a pattern of violations that undermine any hopes for stability. The move to deport Palestinians convicted of crimes to Gaza, stripping them of their citizenship, further complicates the situation, risking statelessness and legal chaos. Overall, the limited reopening is a fragile, controlled gesture that will likely do little to alleviate Gaza’s broader humanitarian suffering or political isolation, and the prospects for meaningful change remain bleak without a broader political resolution.
What the papers say
Al Jazeera reports that the Rafah crossing was reopened on February 2, allowing some Palestinians to leave and return, but movement remains heavily restricted with delays and invasive searches. The New Arab notes that around 180 Palestinians have left Gaza since the reopening, mostly patients and their families, but the process is slow and limited. AP News highlights that only 36 Palestinians requiring medical care have been allowed to leave in the first four days, far below the demand of nearly 20,000 seeking treatment. The Times of Israel and The Independent detail ongoing Israeli restrictions, continued military attacks, and the controversial deportation of Palestinians convicted of crimes, which could lead to statelessness. All sources emphasize the ongoing humanitarian crisis, the slow pace of evacuations, and the control exerted by Israeli authorities over movement and access.
How we got here
Since Israel seized control of the Rafah crossing in May 2024 during its war on Gaza, the enclave has faced severe restrictions on movement. The crossing's closure has hindered medical evacuations, aid delivery, and family reunifications. The recent partial reopening follows a fragile ceasefire and US-brokered agreements, but movement remains heavily restricted, with thousands still seeking to leave for medical care unavailable locally.
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