Palestinians Attempt to Cross Gaza-Egypt Border Despite Delays

Crossing opened for the first time since 2024, but many face difficulties entering Egypt

Published on Feb. 8, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

Palestinians on both sides of the crossing between Gaza and Egypt, which opened last week for the first time since 2024, were heading to the border on Sunday in hopes of crossing into Egypt. However, many faced difficulties and delays in actually being allowed to pass through.

Why it matters

The Rafah border crossing is the main exit point for the 2 million Palestinians living in the Gaza Strip, which has been under an Israeli-Egyptian blockade since 2007. The opening of the crossing is a rare opportunity for Gazans to travel abroad, but the process has been slow and difficult.

The details

According to the report, the Rafah crossing opened on February 5th for the first time since 2024, allowing some Palestinians to cross into Egypt. However, many others who tried to cross on Sunday faced long delays and difficulties, with Egyptian authorities only allowing a limited number of people to pass through at a time.

  • The Rafah border crossing opened on February 5, 2026 for the first time since 2024.
  • Palestinians were heading to the border on Sunday, February 8, 2026 in hopes of crossing into Egypt.

The players

Gaza Strip

A Palestinian territory on the eastern coast of the Mediterranean Sea, which has been under an Israeli-Egyptian blockade since 2007.

Rafah Crossing

The main exit point for the 2 million Palestinians living in the Gaza Strip, connecting Gaza to Egypt.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

The takeaway

The opening of the Rafah border crossing is a rare opportunity for Palestinians in Gaza to travel abroad, but the process remains slow and difficult due to the ongoing blockade and restrictions imposed by Egyptian and Israeli authorities.