Qatar says it is engaging with mediators to reopen the Rafah crossing into Gaza so humanitarian aid can reach civilians, spokesman Majed Al-Ansari said. Rafah was a condition of the October 10 ceasefire but has remained closed amid accusations that restrictions are blocking deliveries. Palestinians are split between hope for medical and educational access and fear that a one-way opening could lead to permanent displacement; Gaza authorities report at least 422 deaths since the truce.
Qatar Says It Is Working With Mediators To Reopen Rafah Crossing to Deliver Aid to Gaza
Truck carrying aid enter Gaza through the border crossing in Rafah, Egypt.[File: Ali Moustafa/Getty Images]
Doha’s foreign ministry spokesman, Majed Al-Ansari, said on Tuesday that Qatar is working with mediators to reopen the Rafah crossing into besieged Gaza so humanitarian aid can reach civilians. He said talks are ongoing but did not provide further details.
“We are working with mediator[s] to ensure we reach the second phase of Gaza ceasefire. We demanded that humanitarian aid is not used as a political blackmail,”
Opening the Rafah crossing with Egypt was a condition of the October 10 ceasefire’s first phase, but the crossing has remained closed. Humanitarian organisations say Israeli restrictions continue to hamper aid deliveries, which they say violates the agreement.
Rafah served for years as Gaza’s main connection to the outside world until the Israeli military occupied the Palestinian side of the crossing in May 2024. On January 1, Israel’s Kan broadcaster reported that Israeli authorities were preparing a potential two-way reopening after reported pressure from U.S. President Donald Trump.
A two-way opening would reverse an earlier Israeli position that the crossing should open only for the exit of Gaza residents to Egypt. That one-way proposal drew condemnation from regional governments, including Egypt and Qatar, which warned it risked effectively displacing Palestinians.
Residents express mixed emotions. Some, like student Tasnim Jaras, said reopening would allow them to resume studies, while wounded residents such as Moaeen al-Jarousha say they need to leave Gaza for urgent medical treatment. Al Jazeera correspondent Hani Mahmoud reported that many families view Rafah as an opportunity to reunite, but also warned that previous openings were short-lived.
At the same time, Israeli forces have continued to carry out strikes in Gaza during the truce. Officials said a recent strike on a tent shelter killed a five-year-old girl and her uncle and wounded others. Gaza health authorities report at least 422 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces since the truce began in October.
Qatar’s engagement with mediators aims to secure both the reopening of Rafah and guarantees that humanitarian aid will not be politicised. The situation remains fluid, with activists, aid groups and regional governments watching closely for any change that would allow reliable flows of aid and safe passage for civilians.
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