Israel Orders Complete Closure of Gaza's Rafah CrossingIsrael orders a complete closure of the Rafah crossing, blocking aid, fuel and cooking gas, after allowing only 20.3% of agreed trucks in October.
Israel has ordered a "complete and comprehensive closure" of the Rafah crossing between Gaza and Egypt, blocking humanitarian aid, commercial shipments, food, fuel and cooking gas from entering the Gaza Strip, a senior Palestinian source involved in the negotiations reported. According to the source, Israeli authorities
informed the UN and Egyptian committee of the decision on Monday evening.
On Tuesday, Israeli authorities turned travelers back at the crossing and said the entry of goods and trucks was suspended, according to the Palestinian Crossings and Borders Authority. The authority said travelers were sent back without any prior announcement of a closure or of changes to the approved operating procedures.
Israel cited alleged smuggling and "interference by government bodies in the Gaza Strip" as its reasons for the closure, the source said. No evidence for either claim was presented in the reports.
The Egyptian route handles approximately 50 to 60 trucks daily, accounting for "nearly half of the daily supplies entering the Gaza Strip," the source said, adding that "fuel and gas come entirely through this route." The source warned that the shutdown could have "direct repercussions on the humanitarian situation and market stability," driving up prices for fuel, cooking gas, food and other essential goods.
The closure comes as Palestinians across Gaza face the onset of winter in makeshift tents and heavily damaged homes, with worsening food insecurity compounded by cuts to World Food Programme assistance.
Even before the closure, Israel was not meeting its obligations under the ceasefire. The October 2025 agreement requires 600 aid trucks to enter Gaza daily, but Israel has severely restricted deliveries, allowing an average of only around 200 trucks per day, according to the source.
Gaza's Government Media Office said in a statement on Monday that the rate of truck entry in October reached only 20.3 percent, while the movement of travelers through Rafah reached only 19.1 percent. It held Israel responsible for the continuing siege and the worsening humanitarian catastrophe, and called on the mediators and the international community to compel Israel to
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