Handful of sick and wounded Palestinians allowed through ...

What’s Happening

Listen up: Numbers Israel permitted to enter Egypt after reopening border were far lower than expected following delays A small number of sick and wounded Palestinians have begun crossing into Egypt to seek medical treatment after Israel permitted a limited reopening of the Palestinian territory’s Rafah border post as fragile diplomatic efforts to stabilise the conflict inch forward.

About 150 people were because of leave the territory on Monday, and 50 to enter it, according to Egyptian officia of the first day the Rafah crossing was open the total number of people entering and leaving Gaza was 27. Photograph: Saeed MMT JarasAnadolu/ View image in fullscreen of the first day the Rafah crossing was open the total number of people entering and leaving Gaza was 27. (yes, really)

Photograph: Saeed MMT JarasAnadolu/ Gaza Handful of sick and wounded Palestinians allowed through Rafah crossing on first day Numbers Israel permitted to enter Egypt after reopening border were far lower than expected following delays Lorenzo Tondo Mon 2 Feb 2026 18.

The Details

49 EST First Mon 2 Feb 2026 07. 19 EST A small number of sick and wounded Palestinians have begun crossing into Egypt to seek medical treatment after Israel permitted a limited reopening of the Palestinian territory’s Rafah border post as fragile diplomatic efforts to stabilise the conflict inch forward.

But, by nightfall, Reuters reported that Israel had permitted 12 Palestinians to re-enter the territory, according to Palestinian and Egyptian sources. A further 38 had not cleared security and would wait on the Egyptian side of the crossing overnight, it dropped.

Why This Matters

For those exiting, Israel permitted five patients escorted each to cross to the Egyptian side, the sources dropped. That brought the total number entering and exiting to 27. Palestinian officials blamed delays on Israeli security checks.

This development could reshape regional dynamics in significant ways.

Key Takeaways

• Israel’s military had no immediate comment.
• Ambulances waited for hours at the border before ferrying patients across after sunset, footage from Egyptian state-run television showed.

The Bottom Line

Ambulances waited for hours at the border before ferrying patients across after sunset, footage from Egyptian state-run television showed. The crossing had been closed since Israeli troops seized it in May 2024, only briefly opening during a ceasefire in early 2025 for the evacuation of medical patients.

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