Limited reopening of Rafah crossing between Egypt and Gaza offers hope to Palestinians

Описание: (3 Feb 2026)
RESTRICTION SUMMARY:

ASSOCIATED PRESS
Jerusalem - 2 February 2026
1. SOUNDBITE (English) Joe Federman, The Associated Press: ++PARTIALLY OVERLAID BY SHOTS 2 TO 10++
"Gaza's Rafah border crossing with Egypt has reopened. This crossing traditionally served as the main gateway for Palestinians traveling in and out of Gaza, but movement has been greatly restricted since the war between Israel and Hamas broke out in October 2023. In fact, this crossing has been closed almost entirely for nearly two years since Israeli troops took control of the crossing and the nearby area in May 2024. Now, the first day of operations did not go smoothly. Only about a dozen people were permitted to travel in each direction, and it took over 10 hours for even that small number of people to cross. That's because of bureaucracy and security checks. Still, the movement of people through this crossing is significant. This marks an important step forward for (US) President Donald Trump's Gaza ceasefire plan. It also offers a glimmer of hope for thousands of Palestinians inside Gaza who are waiting to travel abroad and thousands of others who managed to get out of the territory during the war and now say they're ready to come home. Officials say that as this system takes hold and is perfected, they do expect the number of travelers passing through the crossing each day to rise."

ASSOCIATED PRESS
Khan Younis, Gaza Strip - 2 February 2026
2. Various of bus carrying first Palestinians allowed back into Gaza Strip through Rafah crossing arriving ++NIGHT SHOTS++
3. Mid of Palestinians on bus ++NIGHT SHOT++
4. Wide of people waiting near World Health Organization (WHO) vehicles
5. Person being helped into vehicle
6. Person taking photo of bus
7. Various of vehicles carrying evacuees seeking medical help leaving to head to Rafah crossing
8. Bus arriving ++NIGHT SHOTS++
9. Various of Palestinians reuniting with loved ones ++NIGHT SHOTS++
10. Man carrying bags and leaving ++NIGHT SHOT++
STORYLINE:
A dozen Palestinian returnees were allowed into Gaza from Egypt late Monday night after the long-awaited reopening of the Rafah border crossing was marred by delays.

Their arrival came hours after a small group of medical evacuees were ferried into Egypt.

The reopening of the crossing is a key step in the Israel-Hamas ceasefire but mostly a symbolic one, with few people allowed to travel and no goods allowed to pass through.

The limitations were apparent Monday as crossings fell well short of the 50 people officials had said would be allowed to move in each direction.

About 20,000 Palestinian children and adults needing medical care hope to leave the devastated territory via the crossing, according to Gaza health officials.

Thousands of other Palestinians outside the territory hope to enter and return home.

The crossing had been closed since Israeli troops seized it in May 2024.

The number of travelers is expected to increase over time if the system is successful.

Israel has said it and Egypt will vet people for exit and entry.

Ambulances waited for hours at the border before ferrying patients into Egypt, the state-run Al-Qahera News satellite television channel showed.

Just before midnight, a bus arrived in Gaza carrying Palestinian returnees who had fled the fighting early in the war.

As the vehicle entered the compound of a hospital in Khan Younis, a girl wearing barrettes and an older woman stood just inside the front door, waving to relatives anxious for their return.

Before the war, Rafah was the main crossing for people moving in and out of Gaza.




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