According to Cogat, an Israeli authority, the Rafah crossing between southern Gaza and Egypt will be closed in the wake of the US and Israel's war against Iran. Cogat claims that the decision will not have any impact on the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip. The Rafah crossing is the only crossing from Gaza that does not face Israel.
It was previously closed in May 2024 when Israeli forces invaded the area and was reopened in February this year, but only partially because only a small number of people in need of medical care have been allowed to cross. Other types of crossings, such as aid shipments and goods deliveries, are prohibited by Israel from using the crossing. The specific date for the closure has not been announced, and it is unclear how this will affect the movement of people and goods if it contradicts Cogat's claim of no humanitarian impact.
The crossing remains a critical point for limited medical evacuations.