Israel partially reopens the Rafah crossing as a pilot program, but keeps Gaza under blockade

BeirutThe Rafah border crossing partially reopened yesterday after more than a year and a half of near-total closure, in a pilot operation marked by strict restrictions and a backdrop of persistent violence in the Gaza Strip. The reopening, presented by Israel and international mediators as progress toward implementing the ceasefire agreed upon for the end of 2025, is strictly limited in scope and does not alter the overall control that Israel maintains over the Palestinian territory. The operation was conceived as a trial phase to verify security, identification, and coordination systems before authorizing a regular flow of people. According to official sources and local media, the crossing operated solely for logistical testing and document checks, without yet enabling the actual passage of travelers. Rafah remains under the joint supervision of Egyptian authorities, representatives of the European Union, and COGAT, the Israeli body responsible for coordinating civil affairs in the Palestinian territories. The review of pre-authorized lists became the central focus of this first day. Rafah is not just a border crossing; it symbolizes the degree of control Israel maintains over Gaza. Access to medical treatment outside the enclave, educational opportunities, and family reunification processes depend on its operation. The pilot operation demonstrates that, despite the ceasefire, the Gaza Strip remains isolated and dependent on external decisions, a reminder that the normalization of civilian mobility is still a long way off. Several international reports indicate that the movement of people could begin more clearly from today, with preliminary estimates of up to 150 departures from Gaza and around 50 returns per day, always under strict and reviewable conditions. These figures, however, remain projections and depend on the outcome of the technical evaluation of this initial phase, which reinforces the experimental nature of the reopening.

From a humanitarian perspective, the immediate impact is limited. The partial opening does not allow the entry of goods or humanitarian aid through Rafah, while hospitals remain overwhelmed and international assistance depends on other crossings subject to intermittent closures. For most residents, the ability to move around remains exceptional. In this context, Rafah functions more as a political message of controlled progress than as tangible relief for the population.

The reopening of Rafah comes at a time when millions of Gaza residents have faced extreme movement restrictions for more than a year and a half. This step, although limited in its initial phase, is seen by some mediators as part of a broader scheme for implementing the ceasefire agreement. However, current restrictions do not allow the entry of goods or humanitarian assistance on-site, and the opening remains conditional on security criteria.

The situation in the Strip remains extremely fragile. In the hours leading up to the pilot operation at Rafah, airstrikes resulted in dozens of deaths in various parts of Gaza, even though the ceasefire remains formally in effect. This demonstrates that it functions as a formal framework, but not as a guarantee of daily security.

Gaza representatives and international observers have indicated that, although the crossing began operating in this phase, there is still no official public data on the number of people who actually crossed on Sunday. Discussions about authorization criteria, lists, and security mechanisms continued for much of the day in the vicinity of the crossing.

In addition to operational issues, the reopening is taking place against a backdrop of diplomatic tensions. Egyptian and European monitoring shows that Rafah remains an instrument of political negotiation. Each authorization and pre-approved list reflects not only logistical control, but also decisions about who can leave and under what criteria, transforming the crossing into a barometer of the balance of power in Gaza. In the political and social sphere, the reopening is perceived as a necessary step forward, but clearly insufficient given the needs that have accumulated after months of extreme restrictions.

For now, the reopening of the Rafah crossing resembles more of a verification and control exercise than a solution with the real capacity to transform daily life in Gaza.