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The reopening of the crossing marked a key step in the Israel-Hamas ceasefire but mostly a symbolic one, with few people allowed to travel and no goods allowed to pass through.

Rafah, Gaza's only gateway to the outside world, is a key entry point for both people and goods.

The Rafah crossing has been closed since May 2024 when the Gazan side was captured by Israeli forces.

Fifty people are expected to cross the border between Gaza and Egypt in each direction in the first days of the reopening of the Rafah crossing, Egyptian state-linked media reported Monday. AlQahera News, which is linked to state intelligence, reported citing an unnamed source that "fifty people will depart Egypt for Gaza and fifty people will come from Gaza, in the first days of the operation of the Rafah crossing".

President Trump's Gaza peace plan sees a boost with the Rafah crossing reopening. However, significant hurdles remain, including Hamas's disarmament. Repeated Israeli attacks and Hamas resistance have shaken the plan's progress. Israel warns of a return to war if Hamas refuses to disarm.

Palestinians are awaiting a full reopening of the Rafah crossing with Egypt after Israel partially reopened the key gateway in a limited pilot phase, nearly two years after seizing control during the war with Hamas. Israeli media said around 150 people, including patients, were expected to exit Gaza, while Egypt said its side of the crossing would remain open round the clock to receive medical evacuees.

Israel has reopened the Rafah crossing between Gaza and Egypt in a limited pilot phase, allowing restricted movement for residents for the first time since May. While thousands of Palestinians await return, Israel has also halted the operations of Doctors Without Borders in Gaza.

CAIRO: Palestinians in Gaza watched with hope and impatience Sunday as workers laid the groundwork to reopen the territory's Rafah border crossing with Egypt, i

Israel on Sunday (local time) announced the partial reopening of the Rafah border crossing between Gaza and Egypt in a limited, pilot capacity, marking the first such move since the crossing was seized by Israeli forces in May last year, Al Jazeera reported.

Rafah crossing in Gaza is set to reopen Monday for Palestinians, enabling crucial medical evacuations and humanitarian aid access.