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The Rafah border crossing, Gaza’s primary gateway to the outside world, is scheduled to resume operations on February 2nd following extensive coordination between Israeli, Egyptian, and European Union authorities. This development marks a significant humanitarian breakthrough after the crossing remained largely shuttered for nearly two years under Israeli military control.

According to COGAT, the Israeli military unit overseeing humanitarian coordination, the crossing will operate exclusively for pedestrian traffic in both directions. A preliminary pilot program was conducted on February 1st to assess operational readiness and security protocols. The reopening follows stringent security arrangements and comes as part of the initial phase of US-mediated peace initiatives aimed at resolving the Israel-Hamas conflict.

The reactivation of Rafah crossing holds particular importance for Gaza’s medical evacuation crisis. Palestinian health authorities report approximately 20,000 patients awaiting urgent medical treatment abroad, many with severe injuries from the prolonged conflict. Initial operations will prioritize the evacuation of critically ill patients accompanied by family members, with an estimated 200 individuals permitted to cross into Egypt daily during the initial phase. Meanwhile, approximately 50 people per day will be authorized to return to Gaza, primarily those who fled during earlier stages of hostilities.

Israeli defense officials indicate the crossing can process between 150-200 people daily in both directions combined. All crossing lists require prior approval from Israeli authorities following submission by Egyptian officials. This carefully controlled operation unfolds against a backdrop of continued tension, with recent airstrikes and violations of the October ceasefire underscoring the fragile nature of the current truce. The broader peace plan envisions eventual Palestinian technocratic governance, Hamas disarmament, and Israeli troop withdrawal supported by an international peacekeeping force, though significant disagreements persist regarding implementation.

Israel has revoked the operating privileges of the international medical organization Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), commonly known as Doctors Without Borders, within the Gaza Strip and the occupied West Bank. This decisive action follows a protracted dispute concerning the charity’s refusal to submit comprehensive staff rosters to Israeli authorities.

The Israeli Foreign Ministry, in an official statement released on Sunday, characterized MSF’s reluctance as indicative of having ‘something to hide.’ The ministry framed its demand for staff lists as a fundamental issue of transparency and national security, essential for protecting all involved parties. The confrontation escalated through social media channels, with the ministry publicly criticizing the organization’s stance.

Israeli officials further substantiated their position by alleging connections between two MSF employees and Palestinian militant factions, namely Hamas and Islamic Jihad—claims that MSF has vehemently and categorically denied.

According to the Israeli Foreign Ministry, MSF had initially committed in early January to providing staff information as a component of a mandatory registration protocol. However, the ministry asserts that the organization subsequently reneged on this commitment, ultimately announcing its withdrawal from the registration process altogether. This reversal, deemed a contradiction to prior agreements, prompted the Israeli directive for MSF to completely cease its humanitarian operations and depart the Gaza Strip by February 28, 2026.

In a counter-statement published on its website the preceding Friday, MSF presented a contrasting narrative. The medical charity confirmed it had, as an ‘exceptional measure,’ agreed in principle to share names of its Palestinian and international personnel. However, the organization stated it was unable to secure fundamental guarantees from Israeli authorities regarding the safeguarding and permissible use of this highly sensitive data.

MSF detailed its efforts to engage with Israeli officials to obtain concrete assurances that staff details would be utilized strictly for administrative purposes and would not jeopardize the safety or security of its employees. These efforts, according to MSF, proved futile. Facing a lack of adequate protections, the organization concluded it could not in good conscience share staff information under the prevailing circumstances.

This internal decision to initially comply had already generated significant controversy within the global medical community. Prominent figures, including world-renowned Palestinian surgeon Dr. Ghassan Abu Sittah, condemned the potential compliance, warning it would further endanger aid workers.

This expulsion occurs against a backdrop of increasing Israeli restrictions on humanitarian entities operating in Gaza. In December, authorities unveiled intentions to block 37 aid groups from working in the enclave starting March 1, citing similar failures to submit detailed information on Palestinian staff members. Human rights organizations have consistently warned that such measures severely cripple humanitarian access in Gaza, where the healthcare infrastructure lies in ruins from ongoing military operations and the population faces extreme dependence on international aid for survival.