Palestinians Return to Gaza After Rafah Border Reopens

Twelve Gaza residents were allowed back into the territory late on Monday after Israel and Egypt reopened the Rafah border crossing, the Hamas-run interior ministry in Gaza said, ending nearly two years in which Palestinians were barred from returning. The returnees were reunited with family members, and several described their homecomings as carrying symbolic weight against permanent displacement.

"No to expulsion," said Huda Abu Abed, 56, who returned after leaving in March for medical treatment, adding, "Nobody wants to leave their country," according to the report. The reopening of Rafah was part of a cease-fire agreement reached in October. Israel had refused to open the crossing in both directions until all of the living hostages held by Hamas and all bodies of the deceased had been returned to Israel; the last remains, those of Master Sgt.

Ran Gvili, a member of the Israeli police, were recovered by Israel last week, the article says. Early in the war, the Rafah crossing had been a lifeline for Palestinians fleeing the fighting or seeking medical care, but Israel took over the crossing in May 2024 when its forces moved into Rafah.

For most of the ensuing 21 months the crossing was kept closed; its last temporary opening was at the beginning of 2025 during a monthslong cease-fire. On Monday, some ill Palestinians were also allowed to leave Gaza through Rafah for treatment; the interior ministry said eight people left, including their caregivers.

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