Israel Reopens Rafah Crossing but Halts MSF Operations in Gaza

Israel announced on February 1, 2026, the termination of Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) activities in the Gaza Strip by February 28, citing the organization’s refusal to submit a full list of its Palestinian staff—a requirement imposed on all humanitarian groups operating in the area. Simultaneously, Israel reopened the Rafah border crossing with Egypt, a vital lifeline for humanitarian aid entering Gaza. The Israeli Ministry of Diaspora Affairs stated that MSF failed to comply with registration obligations despite having publicly committed in early January to share a partial staff list—conditioned on clear security guarantees for its personnel. MSF confirmed it had offered a limited list in January as an emergency measure but withdrew the offer after repeated attempts failed to secure assurances from Israeli authorities regarding staff safety. The ministry accused MSF of reversing its position and declared the NGO must cease operations and withdraw from Gaza by February 28. Separately, COGAT—the Israeli Defense Ministry unit overseeing civil affairs in occupied Palestinian territories—announced the Rafah crossing’s reopening under the ceasefire agreement, initiating a limited pilot phase for civilian movement coordinated with the EU Border Assistance Mission (EUBAM) and relevant authorities.