Gaza's Rafah Border Crossing: A Critical Lifeline to Reopen Amid Ongoing Tensions

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The Rafah border crossing, a vital entry point for humanitarian aid and a lifeline for Gaza's residents, has been on hold for months despite international calls for its reopening. The crossing, which connects the Gaza Strip to Egypt, is a crucial gateway for aid workers, food, fuel, and essential supplies that sustain life in the blockaded territory. The crossing has a long and complex history. From 2005 to 2007, it was the first Palestinian border terminal controlled by the Palestinian Authority. Later, it became a symbol of Hamas's control over the Gaza Strip after the militant group seized power. In May 2024, the Israeli army took control of the Palestinian side, citing concerns over arms trafficking and terrorist activities. After a brief reopening during a ceasefire in January 2025, the crossing was closed again. Israeli authorities have since stalled on reopening the crossing, citing Hamas's failure to return the bodies of hostages and the need for coordination with Egypt. However, Israel has announced plans to reopen the crossing in the coming days, allowing residents to exit the Palestinian territory. The agreement brokered by US President Donald Trump's truce plan stipulates that the Rafah crossing would open, allowing international humanitarian aid to enter the territory. However, the Israeli government has yet to implement this plan. In the meantime, international aid has been arriving in Egypt through the ports of Port Said or El-Arish, before being transported to the Gaza Strip through the Israeli crossing of Kerem Shalom. The Kerem Shalom crossing has become a critical point of entry for aid, with trucks being inspected and goods being unloaded and reloaded onto other vehicles authorized to enter Gaza. The agreement provides for the entry of 600 trucks per day, but Israeli authorities have been allowing smaller quantities of humanitarian aid to enter, mostly through Kerem Shalom and the Kissufim crossing. The Erez crossing, which connects Gaza to southern Israel, was destroyed by Hamas gunmen in October 2023 and remains closed, with no reopening date set. Other access points have operated in the past, but Israeli authorities have not communicated on whether they will reopen. The reopening of the Rafah border crossing remains a critical issue, with the fate of Gaza's residents hanging in the balance. As tensions between Israel and Hamas continue, the international community is watching closely for any developments that could lead to the crossing's reopening.