Rafah border crossing reopens on limited, trial basis

GAZA -- The Rafah border crossing between the Gaza Strip and Egypt was reopened on Sunday on a limited and trial basis.

Palestinian sources told Xinhua that the current step is a preliminary trial opening and does not restrict the movement of travelers or patients.

"The Rafah crossing has reopened for movement of people only," said the office of the Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories, a body under Israel's Defense Ministry. "The movement of residents in both directions, entry and exit to and from Gaza, is expected to begin tomorrow."

Palestinian sources said a joint Palestinian-Egyptian-European delegation is at the crossing to conduct operational simulations.

Shadi Othman, media officer at the European Union Office in Jerusalem, told Xinhua that the current reopening is part of a "trial simulation" to assess field readiness, in coordination with all relevant parties, including the European mission and Egypt.

He said that the primary objective at this stage is to ensure that the crossing can operate in both directions, allowing residents to enter and exit smoothly.

Meanwhile, a senior official at Gaza's health authorities told Xinhua that no patients or travelers have been officially informed of any movement schedule to date, due to the absence of finalized arrangements for crossing lists.

The official added that the ministry has not yet received formal notifications regarding the start of transferring medical cases through the crossing.

The Rafah crossing, Gaza's main gateway to the outside world, has been closed for more than a year and a half. Its reopening marks a crucial step following the Israel-Hamas ceasefire, which took effect on October 10, 2025.