Rafah crossing access is again unstable as strikes resume and medical exits stall. The latest disruptions are sharpening focus on how fragile the corridor remains.
What happened at the Rafah crossing
Rafah crossing operations reopened only in a limited way, then quickly hit new interruptions. Reuters reported on February 4, 2026 that Israeli strikes and shelling killed at least 24 Palestinians, according to Gaza health officials. The same report said patient crossings at the Rafah crossing were halted again after only partial movement. It described delays and coordination disputes tied to medical evacuations. https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/israeli-strikes-kill-18-gaza-patient-crossings-rafah-halted-palestinian-2026-02-04/
Reuters also reported earlier that the Rafah crossing was being reopened under limits and pilot-style procedures. It said many of those waiting to leave were hospital patients seeking specialized treatment outside Gaza. It added that some travelers failed to clear security and had to wait on the Egyptian side. https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/israel-expected-reopen-gazas-rafah-border-crossing-egypt-with-limits-2026-02-02/
Accounts of delays have come alongside allegations of harsh treatment at screening points. Reuters described claims from Palestinians and officials about difficult checkpoint conditions and slow processing. https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/gaza-border-reopening-long-awaited-by-stranded-palestinians-2026-02-02/
Medical evacuations: small flows, then stoppage
The Rafah crossing is a critical route for medical evacuations because options inside Gaza are limited. WHO said on February 4, 2026 that evacuations had resumed with the reopening of the Rafah crossing, but numbers were still far below need. In a UN Geneva briefing, WHO warned that too many critically ill people remained behind. https://www.unognewsroom.org/story/en/2985/rafah-medical-evacuations-who
UN OCHA also reported that WHO-supported evacuations continued, including a new group of patients and companions moving through the Rafah crossing. But the update stressed the scale gap between departures and demand. https://www.unocha.org/news/todays-top-news-occupied-palestinian-territory-sudan-syria-yemen
When patient movements stop, the impact is immediate. Al Jazeera reported on February 3, 2026 that most medical evacuees were blocked at the Rafah crossing, prompting warnings from health leaders about fatal delays for patients. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/2/3/un-chief-urges-gaza-aid-as-israel-blocks-most-medical-evacuees-at-rafahWhy the corridor remains so fragile
Rafah crossing volatility is tied to three pressure points.
First, security conditions keep changing. Reuters linked new strikes to Israeli claims of gunfire by militants that injured a soldier, followed by retaliation. That dynamic makes movement vulnerable to abrupt pauses. https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/israeli-strikes-kill-18-gaza-patient-crossings-rafah-halted-palestinian-2026-02-04/
Second , control and coordination are contested. Reuters described disputes over who is responsible for lists, clearances, and coordination with international health bodies during patient transfers. https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/israeli-strikes-kill-18-gaza-patient-crossings-rafah-halted-palestinian-2026-02-04/
Third , capacity is capped by design. Save the Children said the limited opening would allow only a small number of people to exit daily relative to the medical evacuation backlog. https://www.savethechildren.net/news/news-quote-under-limited-opening-rafah-border-urgent-medical-evacuations-would-take-over-year
Why it matters beyond Gaza
Rafah crossing instability is a humanitarian crisis driver, but it also affects regional risk pricing.
When the Rafah crossing stops and restarts, aid logistics become harder to plan. That increases cost and reduces throughput. It can also raise the chance of localized escalation if casualties mount and diplomacy stalls.
Markets also watch the broader spillover risk. Heightened regional tension can influence shipping and insurance pricing, especially for routes tied to Eastern Mediterranean trade flows and energy shipments. Even small shifts in perceived risk can change premiums and scheduling decisions.
Diplomatically, the Rafah crossing is a visible test of ceasefire implementation. Reuters has described the reopening as a delayed element of an October truce framework, which raises the political stakes of each interruption. https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/preparations-underway-full-reopening-gazas-rafah-crossing-officials-say-2026-02-01/
What to watch next
Three signals will indicate whether the Rafah crossing stabilizes.
First, whether daily patient lists are processed consistently, with transparent criteria. Second, whether WHO and OCHA can scale evacuations beyond symbolic levels. Third, whether renewed strikes keep disrupting movement windows.
Rafah crossing volatility is now the core operational variable for medical evacuations. Until it stabilizes, humanitarian planning and regional risk perceptions will stay fragile.