Gaza media office: 1,148 Palestinians cross Rafah border post
The Hamas-run Gaza media office said on Thursday that 1,148 Palestinians had crossed the Rafah border crossing in both directions since its reopening earlier this month.
In a brief press statement, the office detailed that 1,148 travellers had crossed the border post, out of a total of 3,400 people expected to cross during the same period.
According to the statement, a total of 640 people left the Gaza Strip and 508 others returned to the Gaza Strip between Monday 2 February and Wednesday 18 February. The statement added that 26 Palestinians were turned away when attempting to leave the enclave, without any explanation.
Previously, it was estimated that approximately 50 Palestinians, including patients and wounded individuals, would leave Gaza each day, accompanied by two companions. Meanwhile, 50 others would return daily, according to media reports.
On Monday 16 February, Hamas accused Israel of committing “blatant violations” of the operational mechanisms for the Rafah crossing as set out in the ceasefire agreement.
In a press statement, Hamas said that although the crossing had been reopened, Israeli authorities continued to violate the agreed mechanisms and subjected returning travellers to poor physical and psychological treatment as well as harsh interrogation.
The movement added that Israel had failed to meet daily departure and return quotas, endangering thousands of lives of patients and wounded individuals due to delays in receiving medical treatment abroad.
Limited operations at the Rafah crossing began on Monday 2 February and marked the first partial reopening after more than one and a half years of closure. The move was carried out as part of an initial trial phase under a ceasefire agreement mediated by the United States.
Returning travellers and Palestinian factions accused the Israeli military of restricting their freedom of movement through extensive searches, prolonged interrogation, and confiscation of personal belongings. The Israeli authorities have not commented on the accusations.
The Rafah border crossing had been largely closed since Israeli forces took control of the area in May 2024, cutting off Gaza’s access to the outside world and exacerbating the humanitarian crisis.