Rafah crossing partially reopens as wounded remain trapped
The Take
Al Jazeera
4.7 • 747 Ratings
🗓️ 4 February 2026
⏱️ 24 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
After nearly two years of closure, Gaza’s Rafah crossing has reopened under tight Israeli controls. How is the crossing operating in practice? And what does this partial opening mean for the devastated state of Gaza’s health system, and for wounded patients and their families, and the fragile "ceasefire"?
In this episode:
- Ali Harb (@Harbpeace), Al Jazeera Journalist
Episode credits:
This episode was produced by Noor Wazwaz and Sarí el-Khalili with Melanie Marich, Tuleen Barakat, and our host, Kevin Hirten. It was edited by Tamara Khandaker and Alexandra Locke.
Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our video editors are Hisham Abu Salah and Mohannad al-Melhem. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer. Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera’s head of audio.
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Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | Al Jazeera Podcasts. |
| 0:07.0 | Today, Gaza's Rafa Crossing has reopened on Israel's terms. |
| 0:16.0 | Palestinians in need of urgent medical care are set to leave Gaza through the Rafah crossing |
| 0:21.4 | as it reopens for the first time in nearly two years. |
| 0:24.7 | But every name still needs Israeli approval, every family faces checkpoints, |
| 0:29.6 | and Gaza's health system is shattered. |
| 0:32.3 | So what does open really mean? |
| 0:37.3 | I'm Kevin Horton, and this is The Take. |
| 0:43.3 | Before we continue with today's show, remember to leave us a comment, telling us what you think |
| 0:51.8 | about this episode, and what stories you'd like to see us do next. |
| 0:55.5 | Or if you're on your favorite podcast app, give us a review telling us where you're listening |
| 1:00.2 | from and maybe give us a five-star rating while you're there. It does help the show. |
| 1:07.7 | My name is Ali Harp. I am a senior producer for Al Jazeera English, and I am now here at our headquarters in Doha, Qatar. |
| 1:16.9 | Okay, so Ali, welcome to the take. On Monday, the rafa crossing between Gaza and Egypt reopened to allow medical patients to be transferred out of the strip to receive treatment. |
| 1:28.1 | This is part of the second phase of the U.S. back ceasefire agreement, and thousands of patients |
| 1:33.5 | have been desperately waiting for this day to come, only to be bitterly disappointed once again. |
| 1:40.2 | Al-Dezer English digital correspondent, Maram Humade, has been on the ground in Gaza talking to patients. |
| 1:46.1 | Some of the patients were able to leave on the first day. |
| 1:51.6 | I felt so happy, even though I had to leave my young children. |
| 1:55.1 | I wish they could be with me, but I had to leave because of my son's eyesight. |
| 1:59.3 | I've been waiting for a year and a half and I'm eager to leave. |
| 2:02.5 | I'm so happy to be the first in the group too. |
... |
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