The arrangement negotiated by Israeli, Egyptian, Palestinian and international officials set strict daily limits: 50 people would be allowed to return to Gaza each day and 50 medical patients would be permitted to leave, each patient allowed two companions. An Egyptian official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said 50 Palestinians would cross in each direction on the first day. In practice the flows have fallen well below those ceilings; on the second day 40 people were allowed to leave Gaza and 40 to enter, then numbers declined again later in the week. Officials and travelers described an arduous screening regime that stretched processing times and left many stranded. State-run Egyptian media and an Israeli security official confirmed the reopening; authorities closed Rafah again on Friday and Saturday amid operational uncertainty.

Source: thestar February 08, 2026 05:07 UTC