Israel has reopened the Rafah border crossing between Gaza and Egypt for a limited number of people on foot. The crossing, controlled by Israel since May 2024, is Gaza’s only border not shared with Israel. Israel said the control was to stop weapons smuggling by Hamas. This had left Gaza isolated, cutting off access to medicine, travel, and trade. Now, only a small number of Palestinians, mainly the wounded and sick, can cross daily after joint Israeli-Egyptian security checks. An Egyptian official told the Associated Press that only 50 people will cross in each direction on the first day. Before the conflict, Rafah was Gaza’s only way to the world without Israeli control. Its reopening helps patients get medical care, allows limited travel, and helps families visit relatives in Egypt. Thousands of patients in Gaza have registered with the World Health Organization for medical evacuation. Gaza's health ministry says over 20,000 people wait to leave, including more than 11,000 cancer patients. Médecins Sans Frontières reports that over 20% of these patients are children. Israeli airstrikes have damaged Gaza’s health system severely. In March 2025, Israel destroyed Gaza’s only cancer hospital. Since then, doctors work in makeshift clinics with almost no resources. About 4,000 patients with official referrals to treatment outside Gaza remain stuck, reports Gaza health officials. Tamer al-Burai, 50, waiting to leave, told Reuters, "I have appealed to humanitarian groups, to the WHO, to the Palestinian Authority – to anyone – so that I can leave, save my life, and reunite with my family." Sadly, not all survived. Dalia Abu Kashef, 28, died while waiting for crossing permission for a liver transplant. Her husband, Muatasem El-Rass, said, "We were waiting for the crossing to open so we could travel and do the surgery, hoping for a happy ending. But she deteriorated badly and died." The WHO says 900 people, including children and cancer patients, have died waiting to leave. The opening also allows family reunions after over two years of war. Mohammad Talal, a trader from Gaza, told Reuters, "I love Gaza, and I don’t see any other place that feels like home... I can’t wait to take my father into my arms and place a kiss on his forehead." This reopening is part of the US-brokered ceasefire’s second phase. The first phase included hostage exchanges, increased aid, and a limited Israeli troop withdrawal. The next phase aims to set up a new Palestinian governing committee in Gaza, deploy an international security force, disarm Hamas, and start rebuilding. EU diplomat Kaja Kallas called the reopening "a concrete and positive step in the peace plan." The EU mission is on the ground to monitor and support Palestinian border guards. Reuters and Associated Press contributed to this report.