Rafah Crossing at a Standstill: Only 225 Travelers Depart Gaza in a Week Amid Stringent Security Restrictions

Gaza's Government Media Office reported on Tuesday that the Rafah border crossing remains severely restricted, with only 225 travelers—mostly patients and their companions—allowed to depart between February 2nd and 9th. This represents only 25% of the 1,600 people scheduled to travel. The total movement in both directions reached just 397 people, highlighting the immense gap between humanitarian needs and the current operational capacity of the crossing.

Despite the recent partial reopening under international oversight as part of ceasefire arrangements, security hurdles continue to trap thousands of wounded and sick individuals on waiting lists. Officials in Gaza emphasize that the current flow is insufficient to address the backlog of urgent cases accumulated since the Israeli takeover of the Palestinian side of the crossing in May 2024. The humanitarian crisis remains acute as movement remains limited and unpredictable.