Rafah crossing opens for limited movement in and out of Gaza

Gaza's Rafah border crossing with Egypt reopened on Monday for limited traffic, a key step as the Israeli-Hamas ceasefire moves ahead, according to Egyptian and Israeli security officials.

An Egyptian official said 50 Palestinians would cross in each direction on the first day of the crossing's operation.

Meanwhile, eight countries have condemned Israel for its repeated ceasefire violations in Gaza.

On Monday, a three-year-old boy was killed in Khan Younis.

More than 20,000 Palestinians in Gaza are in need of medical treatment only available outside the strip.

Displaced Hani al-Masri says his mother and father are among the many who are ill and need the Rafah crossing into Egypt to open.

Two years of war has almost completely destroyed the medical infrastructure in Gaza.

Before the war, the Rafah crossing was the only way for most Palestinians in Gaza to reach the outside world, serving also as an entry point for daily supplies.

After Israel shut the crossing in May, 2024, it finally opened on Monday as part of the US-brokered ceasefire deal.

A list of people wanting to leave or enter via Rafah must be drawn up and approved by Israel and then undergo strict checks at the border.

Eventually, around 200 a day are expected to leave while around 50 can enter the strip, all by foot.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu earlier said they would not prevent Palestinians from leaving.

In line with people movement is the increase in aid trucks expected to cross into Gaza from Egypt.

Trucks full of aid supplies and blankets entered Egypt's Rafah Gate, heading to Kerem Shalom crossing for Israeli inspection.

The crossing was busy with activity with Israel saying it has opened in a test.

The Coordination of Government Activities in the Territories, or COGAT, the Israeli military agency that controls aid to Gaza, said in a statement that the crossing was actively being prepared for fuller operations.

Meanwhile, the foreign ministers of eight countries have strongly condemned Israel's repeated violations of the ceasefire.

At least 32 Palestinians were killed in a series of Israeli airstrikes on Friday and Saturday, with attacks targeting a police station, residential apartments and displacement tents.

United Arab Emirates, Turkey, Egypt, Jordan, Indonesia, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Qatar said in a joint statement that Israel's actions risk escalating tensions and undermining efforts aimed at restoring stability.