By Micah Jonah
March 1, 2026
Israel has closed Gaza’s Rafah border crossing with Egypt following the joint Israeli-United States attacks on Iran, citing security concerns.
In a statement, the Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT) said “necessary security adjustments” had been implemented, including the closure of all crossings into the Gaza Strip until further notice.
The Rafah crossing, situated on Gaza’s southern border with Egypt, had reopened only last month. It allowed a limited number of Palestinians to exit the territory for the first time in months, including patients requiring urgent medical treatment.
The crossing is regarded as a critical lifeline for the delivery of humanitarian aid and the evacuation of critically ill patients. Gaza’s population of more than two million people remains heavily dependent on assistance following months of conflict and widespread displacement.
In mid-February, the United Nations reported continued impediments to the delivery of lifesaving aid into Gaza. A February report by Human Rights Watch stated that Israeli restrictions had contributed to shortages of medicines, reconstruction materials, food and water within the enclave.
COGAT, however, maintained that sufficient food supplies had entered Gaza since the start of a ceasefire, claiming the quantities amounted to four times the nutritional needs of the population. The Israeli defence body did not provide evidence to support the assertion and said the closure would not affect the humanitarian situation.
COGAT oversees civil affairs in the occupied Palestinian territories and has faced criticism from rights groups, arguing that it plays a central role in enforcing movement restrictions and closures.
The shutdown of Rafah adds another layer of uncertainty to the humanitarian situation in Gaza as regional tensions continue to rise.
