Israel kills 4 suspected militants in Gaza’s Rafah despite ceasefire

Despite an ongoing ceasefire, the Israeli military killed four suspected militants in Rafah, southern Gaza, on Monday. According to the military, the armed men emerged from a tunnel and attacked Israeli troops, who then eliminated them. Israel described the incident as a "blatant violation" of the ceasefire agreement with Hamas. The military stated that its troops are continuing operations in the area to locate and eliminate other militants within the tunnel system. Violence has persisted in the Gaza Strip despite the truce, with both Israel and Hamas accusing each other of violations.

Since October 2023, Israel's control over Gaza's borders has intensified, restricting Palestinian movement and access to essential resources. The closures, initially presented as temporary security measures, have become a daily reality, impacting access to medical treatment, education, and family reunification. The Rafah crossing with Egypt, once considered an alternative route, has also fallen under Israeli control since May 7, 2024, further limiting aid and evacuations. This control is exerted through permits, road closures, and restrictions on who and what can enter or exit Gaza. These measures have transformed freedom of movement into a tool of control, with significant consequences for the Palestinian population.

The Rafah crossing between Gaza and Egypt reopened on Thursday, February 5, 2026, after a two-day closure. The reopening allowed for limited travel in both directions. A group of Palestinian medical evacuees departed from Khan Younis in the Gaza Strip on Sunday, February 1, aiming to receive medical treatment in Egypt. Palestinians have reported delays and mistreatment at the crossing. The Rafah crossing is a vital point of exit and entry for Palestinians in Gaza, particularly for medical patients seeking treatment abroad.

Israeli strikes in Gaza have killed at least 17 Palestinians, including children, according to hospital officials. The strikes occurred in northern and southern Gaza, specifically in Gaza City and Khan Younis. The Israeli military stated the strikes were a response to gunfire from "terrorists" that seriously wounded an Israeli soldier during an operation near the Yellow Line, a territory demarcation under the ceasefire agreement with Hamas. Israel characterized the gunfire as a violation of the truce, which began on October 10th. Both Israel and Hamas have accused each other of frequent violations of the ceasefire. The conflict stems from the Hamas-led attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, and Israel's subsequent military campaign in Gaza.

Israeli strikes in Gaza have killed 18 people, including four children, following a shooting at Israeli soldiers that injured a reservist. The strikes targeted Gaza City and Khan Younis. Palestinian officials report that Israel has halted the evacuation of patients through the Rafah border crossing to Egypt, just two days after it reopened for limited crossings. Cogat, the Israeli military agency, claims the crossing remains open but lacks coordination details from the World Health Organization. This disruption occurs amidst a fragile ceasefire established under a US-backed plan, which has been marked by near-daily violence. Since the ceasefire began, Israeli fire has killed at least 530 people, while Palestinian militants have killed four Israeli soldiers.

Since the US-brokered ceasefire in October, violence has continued in Gaza, resulting in the deaths of at least 556 Palestinians and four Israeli soldiers. Recent Israeli strikes have killed dozens of Palestinians, raising questions about the ceasefire's effectiveness. Other aspects of the agreement, such as the deployment of an international security force, Hamas' disarmament, and reconstruction efforts, have stalled. While the opening of the Rafah border crossing offered some hope, only a limited number of people have been allowed to cross. The ongoing violence and stalled progress have led to widespread frustration and questions about the future of the ceasefire.

Preparations began Sunday to reopen the Rafah crossing, Gaza's main border with Egypt, which has been largely shut since May 2024. Cogat, the Israeli military unit overseeing humanitarian coordination, stated the crossing will reopen for pedestrian traffic in both directions, coordinated with Egypt and the EU. While the exact timing of passenger passage remains uncertain, a Palestinian official anticipates the crossing will open for passengers on Monday. Israel stated the crossing would open under strict security checks for Palestinians leaving the war-ravaged territory and those returning who fled earlier in the conflict, prioritizing the sick and wounded seeking medical care abroad. The crossing is expected to accommodate 150-200 people in both directions, with more people leaving than returning, and lists of approved individuals have been submitted by Egypt and approved by Israel.

A Gaza hospital director reports that malnourished and traumatized mothers are still giving birth to underweight or premature babies, despite a ceasefire between Hamas and Israel that began over three months ago. The hospital is struggling to provide adequate care. While aid to Gaza has increased since the ceasefire, the UN states it remains insufficient to meet the population's needs. Israel maintains it is fulfilling its obligations by allowing more food and medical aid into Gaza. The report highlights the ongoing humanitarian crisis and its impact on newborns in the region.

The Rafah crossing between Gaza and Egypt reopened on Monday, February 2, 2026, after being closed for nearly a year. This reopening marks progress in the fragile cease-fire between Israel and Hamas following the Gaza war. The crossing, located in southern Gaza, will allow some Gazan refugees to return and expedite medical treatment abroad for the sick and wounded. The reopening was delayed due to disagreements between Israel and Egypt and Israel's demand for the return of hostages taken in the October 7, 2023 attack. The crossing's reopening follows the retrieval of the remains of the last hostage. Despite the reopening, the cease-fire remains fragile, as evidenced by recent Israeli airstrikes in Gaza.

Palestinian women returning to Gaza through the Rafah crossing with Egypt in February 2026 are recounting experiences of detention and interrogation by Israeli forces. The women, including Rotana al-Raqab and her mother, Huda Abu Abed, had been stranded in Egypt since March 2025, seeking medical treatment. Despite the Rafah crossing not crossing Israeli territory, it has been largely closed since May 2024, and its partial reopening is linked to the second phase of a Gaza ceasefire deal. Upon their return, the women describe enduring body searches, interrogations, and confiscation of belongings. They had been separated from their families in Gaza, including Rotana's six children, and were eager to return amidst ongoing Israeli attacks.

After the Rafah border crossing reopened, Palestinian women returning to Gaza reported being bound and interrogated by Israeli troops. The crossing's reopening allowed some Palestinians to return from Egypt. One woman described the journey back to Gaza as "exhausting" and lengthy. Rotana al-Regeb reunited with her children in Khan Younis after being allowed back into Gaza. Twelve Palestinian returnees, including Rotana al-Regeb and her mother, arrived at Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis after crossing the border. The Rafah crossing had been long-awaited to reopen.

Israel has agreed to a limited reopening of the Rafah border crossing between Gaza and Egypt, which it seized in May 2024, citing the need to prevent weapons smuggling. The reopening will allow a small number of Palestinians to cross on foot in each direction, subject to Israeli-Egyptian security screening. Before the conflict, Rafah was Gaza's only border crossing not controlled by Israel. The move aims to ease access to medical care and allow limited travel, but only 50 people will be permitted to cross each way initially. Thousands of Palestinians are seeking medical evacuation, including many cancer patients and children, as Gaza's healthcare system has been severely damaged by Israeli airstrikes. Thousands of civilians have registered with the World Health Organization for medical evacuation.

Despite an ongoing ceasefire, Israeli strikes in Gaza on Friday, January 30, 2026, resulted in at least five deaths and eleven injuries. Two Palestinians were killed in a drone strike at the Maghazi refugee camp in central Gaza, while Israeli forces reported killing three "terrorists" in Rafah, claiming they emerged from an underground location. The strikes occurred as Israel continued targeted operations in the besieged territory. In Rafah, Israeli naval gunboats also fired on Palestinian fishermen. Palestinian authorities are demanding the reopening of the Rafah crossing, a vital entry point for humanitarian aid, as stipulated in the ceasefire agreement.

On Saturday, January 31, 2026, Israeli airstrikes in the Gaza Strip killed at least 26 people, according to a Gaza health official. The Israeli military stated the strikes targeted Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad commanders in response to a cease-fire violation on Friday, where militants emerged from a tunnel in Rafah. Hamas condemned the strikes as a violation of the cease-fire agreement. Despite the violence, a crucial land crossing between Gaza and Egypt near Rafah is expected to reopen, allowing Palestinians who fled the two-year war to return home. This reopening is part of the cease-fire agreement established in October, which included hostage releases and Israeli military withdrawal to a designated line within Gaza.

Israeli air strikes across the Gaza Strip on Saturday killed at least 27 Palestinians, including women and children, according to local authorities. The strikes, which hit areas including Khan Younis and Gaza City, targeted residential buildings, shelters, and what the IDF described as Hamas infrastructure. The Israeli military stated the strikes were in response to Hamas violating the ceasefire agreement brokered in October, claiming eight terrorists were identified exiting an underground infrastructure in Rafah. Hamas condemned the strikes, calling them a violation of the truce and urging the US to take action. Both sides have accused each other of violating the agreement since it came into effect last year following the initial Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, 2023.

The United Nations reports that Palestinians in Gaza are in a "desperate" situation due to the prolonged closure of the Rafah crossing by Israel. This closure is exacerbating widespread suffering, particularly impacting children. The report was published on January 28, 2026. Despite an October ceasefire with Hamas, Israeli forces continue attacks, resulting in at least four Palestinian deaths in Gaza City's al-Sanafour area. The UN warns that the aid blocks are hitting children the hardest.

Israel confirmed on Monday the recovery of the remains of Staff Sgt. Ran Gvili, the last Israeli hostage held in Gaza. Gvili, a 24-year-old police officer, was killed on October 7, 2023, during fighting with Hamas terrorists near Kibbutz Alumim. Following his death, his body was abducted to Gaza. The Hostages and Missing Families Forum released a statement describing Gvili as a beloved friend with deep values. Gvili is survived by his parents, brother, and sister.

On January 27, 2026, Israel marked the return of Ran Gvili's remains, the final hostage from the Hamas attack over two years prior. This event prompted the removal of yellow ribbons and the shutdown of a symbolic clock in Tel Aviv's Hostages Square, signifying the end of a painful chapter. The clock had been tracking the duration of the hostages' captivity since the initial attack. In related news, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced plans for a "limited" reopening of the Rafah border crossing with Egypt, allowing Palestinian travel in and out of Gaza after nearly two years of closure since Israel seized it in May 2024.

Israel announced it will partially reopen the Rafah crossing between Gaza and Egypt on Sunday, allowing limited pedestrian movement. This marks a significant step following a near two-year closure that began in May 2024, when Israel seized the crossing to halt arms smuggling by Hamas. The decision follows statements from Israeli and Palestinian officials indicating an imminent reopening and the recovery of the last hostage remains in Gaza. Both Israel and Egypt will vet individuals crossing, with EU border patrol agents supervising the crossing and Israel conducting screenings in the adjacent corridor under its military control. The reopening is considered a step forward for a US-backed Gaza ceasefire plan.

Israel will reopen the Rafah border crossing between Gaza and Egypt on Sunday, after nearly two years of closure. The reopening, allowing limited pedestrian movement, is considered a step forward for a U.S. ceasefire plan. Both Israel and Egypt will vet individuals, with supervision by EU border patrol agents and additional screenings by Israel in the adjacent corridor. The crossing has been largely closed since May 2024, when Israel cited the need to halt arms smuggling by Hamas. The decision to reopen follows the recovery of the last hostage remains in Gaza and pressure to allow medical evacuees and displaced Palestinians to cross. Initially, dozens of Palestinians will be allowed through each way, prioritizing medical cases and those who fled during the war.

A US official stated that Hamas disarmament in Gaza will likely include some form of amnesty for the group's members. This comment was made after the recovery of the last Israeli captive in Gaza, which is seen as a step toward the next phase of the Gaza ceasefire deal agreed upon in October 2026. The official indicated that the US believes Hamas will disarm and that a program is in place to facilitate this. While details remain unclear, the possibility of amnesty in exchange for disarmament is being discussed, marking a potentially significant development. The statement was made during a background briefing by senior officials from the US President Donald Trump’s administration and reporters in Washington, DC.