The Rafah border crossing between Gaza and Egypt is set to reopen within hours after it was seized by Israel over a year ago. The Israelis said limited travel to and from the territory would resume on Monday (February 2).

The move signals a key step in the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, with the opening considered by the Israeli authorities as a test. About 20,000 Palestinian men, women and children in need of medical care are hoping to leave Gaza via the crossing. Thousands of other Palestinians outside the territory hope to return home.

Palestinians consider the crossing as their gateway to the rest of the world. It has been shut since Israel seized it in May 2024. The reopening is a key step in last year’s US-brokered ceasefire agreement between Hamas and Israel following the war triggered by the October 7, 2023, attacks. The deal took effect on October 10 and is moving into its second phase.

Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said 50 patients a day would be allowed to leave. The Israelis said people will be vetted for exit and entry through the crossing, which will be supervised by European Union border patrol agents.

The number of travellers is expected to increase over time if the system proves to be a success.

COGAT, the Israeli military agency which controls aid to Gaza, said in a statement that the crossing was actively being prepared for fuller operation. It confirmed people in Gaza would begin to pass through the crossing on Monday.

Before the war, Rafah was the main crossing for people moving in and out of Gaza. Although Gaza has four other border crossings, they are all shared with Israel.

Pictures on Sunday showed ambulances and medical teams from the Egyptian Ministry of Health at the border crossing ready to enter Gaza if the crossing reopens.

In a separate announcement, Israel said on Sunday that it was “moving to terminate” the operations of Médecins sans frontières (MSF) in Gaza.

It comes after Israel in December suspended the group’s operations in Gaza because it had refused to comply with new Israeli registration requirements.

These demanded that organisations submit lists of local employees. The group said the new regulations could put their Palestinian staff in danger.

Israel’s Diaspora Ministry said: “MSF will cease its operations and depart the Gaza Strip by February 28, 2026.”

MSF is one of more than two dozen humanitarian organisations Israel suspended from operating in the Gaza Strip because of failure or refusal to comply with the new requirements.

The Diaspora Ministry said the new rules it proposed are aimed at preventing Hamas and other militant groups from infiltrating aid organisations.

However, the organisations say the rules are arbitrary and warned the bans would harm a civilian population desperately in need of humanitarian aid.