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Cairo — The Rafah border crossing between Gaza and Egypt reopened Monday to limited traffic, a key step as the Ceasefire between Israel and Hamas progressing, according to Egyptian and Israeli security officials.

An Egyptian official said 50 Palestinians would cross in each direction on the crossing’s first day of operation. The official, involved in talks related to the implementation of the ceasefire agreement, spoke to The News on condition of anonymity to discuss the issue.

Egyptian state media and an Israeli official also confirmed the reopening, which at least for now is largely symbolic. Few people will be able to travel in any direction and no goods will be allowed to enter.

According to Gaza health officials, around 20,000 Palestinian children and adults in need of medical care are waiting to leave devastated Gaza through the crossing. Thousands more Palestinians outside the territory wait to enter and return to their homes.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has also said that Israel will allow 50 patients a day to leave. An official involved in the discussions, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss diplomatic talks, said each patient would be allowed to travel with two family members, while about 50 people who left Gaza during the war would be allowed to return each day.

Israel has said so and Egypt will screen people for exit and entry through the crossing, which will be monitored by European Union border patrol officers and a small Palestinian presence. Ridership is expected to increase over time if the system is successful.

Israeli troops seized the Rafah crossing in May 2024, considering it part of efforts to combat Hamas weapons smuggling. The crossing was briefly opened for the evacuation of medical patients during a ceasefire in early 2025. Israel had resisted reopening the Rafah crossing, but the Recovery of the remains of the last hostage in Gaza last week cleared the way to move forward.

Reopening is a key step following the ceasefire agreement negotiated by the United States last year which came into force on October 10 is moving into its second phase.

Before the war, Rafah was the main crossing for people entering and leaving Gaza. The territory’s few other crossings are shared with Israel. Under the terms of the ceasefire, the Israeli military controls the area between the Rafah crossing and the area where most Palestinians live.

Fearing that Israel could use the crossing to expel Palestinians from the enclave, Egypt has repeatedly said it must be open for them to enter and leave Gaza. Historically, Israel and Egypt have screened Palestinians who request to cross.

The current ceasefire halted more than two years of war between Israel and Hamas that began with the Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023. The first phase of the truce called for the exchange of all hostages held in Gaza for hundreds of Palestinians held by Israel, an increase in much-needed humanitarian aid and a partial withdrawal of Israeli troops.

The second phase is more complicated. It calls for installing the new Palestinian committee to govern Gaza, deploying an international security force, disarming Hamas and taking steps to begin reconstruction.

A United Nations children’s agency official said last week there was a delay in supplies in Egypt ready to enter Gaza when the crossing opens to aid traffic.

“We have supplies positioned,” said Ted Chaiban, UNICEF deputy executive director. “We have our excellent staff doing good work on the ground. We have plans that can be activated immediately if access is granted.”

The next phase should include not only bringing in more humanitarian and commercial supplies but also permanent shelter materials and items to repair infrastructure, he added.