The Take: Rafah crossing partially reopens as wounded remain trapped
Rafah’s reopening came with heavy restrictions, leaving thousands of patients still unable to leave Gaza.
![Palestinians coming from the Rafah border crossing between Gaza and Egypt, which was opened by Israel on Monday for a limited number of people, arrive at Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip, February 2, 2026. [Mahmoud Issa/Reuters]](/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/2026-02-02T223343Z_376888351_RC2XDJAGP1JT_RTRMADP_3_ISRAEL-PALESTINIANS-GAZA-1770227564.jpg?resize=770%2C513&quality=80)
After nearly two years of closure, Gaza’s Rafah crossing has reopened under tight Israeli controls. How is the crossing operating in practice? And what does this partial opening mean for the devastated state of Gaza’s health system, and for wounded patients and their families, and the fragile “ceasefire”?
In this episode:
Recommended Stories
list of 3 items- list 1 of 3The Take: Will the US force regime change in Cuba?
- list 2 of 3The Take: As EU tightens borders, Spain legalizes 500,000 migrants
- list 3 of 3The Take: Why is evidence of Israel’s war crimes in Gaza disappearing?
- Ali Harb (@Harbpeace), Al Jazeera journalist
Episode credits:
This episode was produced by Noor Wazwaz and Sarí el-Khalili with Melanie Marich, Tuleen Barakat, and our host, Kevin Hirten. It was edited by Tamara Khandaker and Alexandra Locke.
Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our video editors are Hisham Abu Salah and Mohannad al-Melhemm. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer. Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera’s head of audio.
Connect with us:
