Israel Opens Gaza Border Crossing Amid Renewed Peace Efforts
CAIRO – Israel reopened the Rafah crossing with Egypt on Thursday after nearly three weeks of closure, allowing wounded Palestinians to travel for medical treatment. The opening came amid renewed diplomatic efforts to preserve the fragile Gaza ceasefire, which has faced serious strain since US-Israeli attacks on Iran began February 28.
The Palestinian Red Crescent Society confirmed that only eight Palestinians injured during the two-year conflict and 17 family members would be permitted to enter Egypt for medical care. The number allowed to return from Egypt into Gaza remained unclear.
The border reopening resulted from recent negotiations between envoys from President Trump’s “Board of Peace” and Hamas officials in Cairo. The crossing had been largely closed since May 2024, when Israel’s war against Gaza intensified. Its reopening in early February and again Thursday offers some relief to Palestinians seeking medical treatment or attempting to return home after fleeing the fighting.
However, the truce remains strained. While Israeli military operations declined in the days immediately following the US-Israeli strike on Iran, attacks have since resumed. On Thursday, two Israeli airstrikes killed at least four Palestinians in Gaza City, according to local health officials. There was no immediate Israeli response to the incident reports.
The Gaza health ministry reports nearly 680 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli fire since the October ceasefire began. Israel says four soldiers were killed by militants in Gaza during the same period.
The two sides continue trading accusations of ceasefire violations. The renewal of violence demonstrates the fragility of the agreement as regional tensions remain high and broader security concerns continue to affect the territory.
Diplomatic efforts to stabilize the ceasefire and prevent further escalation remain ongoing, though the path toward lasting peace remains uncertain.
