Israel reopens Rafah crossing in Gaza

Israel reopened the Rafah crossing in Gaza on Monday as part of the next phase of President Trump's peace plan, allowing Palestinians to cross between the strip and Egypt, after closing it for nearly two years.

The reopening will allow some people to enter and exit Gaza, with small numbers in need of medical aid allowed to leave and others to return to the territory, NBC News reported.

Israeli military agency COGAT spokesperson Shimi Zuaretz told the news outlet that the crossing had reopened at 2 a.m. ET.

On Sunday, COGAT said the crossing would reopen only for the movement of people, and had previously warned that the crossings at Rafah would be limited and involve security clearance by Israel.

As with past operations in Rafah, European Union border officers are expected to assist.

Media officer at the European Union Office in Jerusalem, Shadi Othman, told the news outlet on Monday that the reopening would let dozens of patients leave Gaza, while dozens of others would enter from the Egyptian side.

“This is today’s plan,” Othman said. “We will wait until the end of the day to see what will happen and to know the final number of those who depart and those who enter.”

The Rafah crossing has largely been closed since May 2024.

On Monday, the Egyptian Health Ministry said that the level of preparedness at all healthcare facilities had been raised for the movement of patients and the wounded. About 150 hospitals nationwide, nearly 12,000 doctors, and around 300 fully equipped ambulances were on standby for crisis management.

The governor of Egypt’s North Sinai province, Khaled Mujawir, told NBC News on Sunday that 150 wounded, injured, and sick Palestinians from Gaza were expected to arrive in Egypt on Monday.