ALL entry points into the Gaza Strip, including the recently reopened Rafah crossing on the southern border with Egypt, were closed on Saturday, halting the delivery of critical humanitarian supplies and the transfer of patients requiring urgent medical care.
Reuters reported today that Israeli authorities said the closures are linked to regional security measures following military operations conducted by Israel and the United States against Iran.
The Rafah crossing had reopened in early February to allow a limited number of Palestinians to cross for the first time in months, including those in need of urgent medical attention.
Its closure represents a significant setback for the movement of civilians and the delivery of aid to a population heavily reliant on external assistance after years of conflict, displacement, and infrastructure damage.
The Gaza Strip is home to over two million people, the majority of whom depend on humanitarian support to meet basic needs.
In mid-February, the United Nations reported that delivering lifesaving aid remained fraught with obstacles, leaving many residents in peril.
Human Rights Watch highlighted that Israel’s restrictions continue to restrict the flow of medicines, reconstruction materials, food, and water into the territory.
In a statement regarding the border closures, the Israeli government’s Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT) asserted that food supplies delivered since the beginning of the ceasefire have been sufficient to cover four times the needs of the population and that “the existing stock is expected to suffice for an extended period,” though the agency provided no supporting evidence for this claim.
Aid organisations have voiced alarm that the renewed focus on military operations against Iran could leave Gaza and the West Bank further neglected, intensifying the humanitarian crisis and endangering civilian lives. - March 1, 2026
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