TL:DR – Israel Reopens Rafah Crossing in Southern Gaza Strip on 2 February
• On Monday, 2 February, Israel reopened the Rafah crossing in southern Gaza, as part of the US-brokered ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas.
• The reopening was delayed until the return of the last Israeli hostage, which occurred last week.
• The EU redeployed its civilian Border Mission (EUBAM) to monitor the Rafah crossing, indicating its ongoing presence in the Middle East.
• Hamas’s disarmament remains uncertain, with Israel maintaining that it is a prerequisite for peace.
Podcast: Israel reopens the Rafah crossing: What does this mean for Gaza?
On Monday, 2 February, Israel reopened the Rafah crossing in the southern Gaza Strip at the border with Egypt, marking a significant step forward in the US-brokered ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas. The crossing had been scheduled to reopen earlier during the first phase of the ceasefire initiated in October 2025, but Israel delayed this until the return of the last Israeli hostage, which occurred last week.
This development is vital as it may improve humanitarian access for Palestinians in Gaza and signals a thaw in relations following intense conflict.
EU Responds to Rafah Crossing Reopening
Martin Konečný, director of the European Middle East Project, described the reopening as “a small positive step forward.” However, he cautioned that the number of people allowed to pass through the crossing remains limited and warned that Palestinians in Gaza continue to face danger due to recent Israeli actions. The European Union (EU) responded by redeploying the EU civilian Border Mission (EUBAM) to the Rafah crossing, providing a neutral third-party presence to facilitate coordination among involved actors.
Stefan Grobe, Euronews’ political correspondent, noted that EUBAM serves as an important signal of the EU’s presence in the Middle East but stressed that “the future of Gaza will not be decided in Brussels or any of the European capitals,” reflecting the existing diplomatic divisions within the EU.
Concerns About Long-term Peace Initiatives
Questions arise concerning the effectiveness of the Board of Peace proposed by former US President Donald Trump to foster peace in the region. Lisa Musiol, head of EU affairs at the International Crisis Group, remarked that while a United Nations resolution endorsed the establishment of the Board, it does not adequately address Gaza and appears to be an alternative to UN efforts.
Currently, only Bulgaria and Hungary have joined the Board of Peace; Ursula Von der Leyen, president of the European Commission, indicated she received an invitation, with Grobe suggesting that this was a “polite way of saying it [the Board of Peace] is a joke.”
Ongoing Tensions with Hamas
Outstanding questions remain regarding whether Hamas will disarm or relinquish control of the Gaza Strip, as this remains a key issue for Israel. Hamas, defined as an armed Palestinian group and political movement, initiated an attack on Israel on 7 October 2023, resulting in over 1,200 fatalities and the capture of 251 hostages. This prompted a substantial Israeli military offensive in Gaza, leading to tens of thousands of Palestinian casualties.
The first phase of the ceasefire deal facilitated the release of the remaining 20 Israeli hostages and nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners from Israeli jails, as brokered by US President Donald Trump in October 2025.
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