Israel closes Rafah crossing and seals checkpoints across West Bank and Gaza

Key points

• Israeli authorities have ordered the closure of all crossings in the occupied West Bank and Gaza Strip, including the Rafah border crossing with Egypt.
• The measures took effect on Saturday, 28 February 2026, amid heightened regional tensions linked to an Israeli–US attack on Iran.
• The decision was announced by Israel’s Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT), which oversees Palestinian civilian affairs.
• Exceptions apply only to Palestinians classified as “essential workers” holding special permits and allowed through a limited number of designated crossings.
• In the West Bank, hundreds of Palestinians were stranded at iron gates and road barriers, with some forced to stay overnight in vehicles or with relatives.
• In Gaza, the closure reverses a partial reopening of Rafah earlier in February that had allowed some patients and other travellers to move in and out after years of restrictions.
• Palestinian officials and activists have condemned the move as a form of collective punishment, warning of worsening humanitarian conditions, while Israel says the closures are necessary security measures.
• The restrictions are expected to affect access to medical care, education, and the flow of goods and aid, with concerns about a potential wider humanitarian crisis if the closures persist.

Israeli authorities shut Rafah crossing and impose sweeping closures

Israeli authorities have closed the Rafah border crossing between Gaza and Egypt and shut all other crossings and checkpoints in the occupied West Bank and Gaza Strip until further notice, in a move that has sharply curtailed Palestinian movement on both sides of the Green Line. The decision, announced on Saturday by Israel’s Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT), follows an escalation in regional tensions connected to an Israeli and United States attack on Iran.

COGAT said in a statement that the closures were part of “security measures” taken “following recent developments” and aimed at safeguarding lives. The authority confirmed that crossings in the Gaza Strip, including Rafah, and those in the West Bank would remain closed until further notice, with limited exceptions for essential workers.

Scope and terms of the closure

According to COGAT, all crossings in the Gaza Strip are shut, including Rafah at Gaza’s southern border, which had been a key conduit for people and restricted humanitarian movements. The statement indicated that West Bank crossings are also closed, except for essential workers who hold designated permits and will be allowed passage through specified crossings, including Eyal, Tarqumiyah and Qalandia.

In its announcement, the Israeli authority stressed a policy of “zero tolerance toward any attempt to undermine security stability”, warning that those it describes as involved in “terrorist activities” would face strict measures. It further stated that any incitement or support for Iran would draw a severe response, linking the internal movement restrictions to the broader regional confrontation.

Middle East Eye reported that the Israeli army also closed “all barriers and iron gates” it has set up in various parts of the occupied West Bank on Saturday morning, coinciding with the launch of the attack on Iran. The closures cover an extensive network of checkpoints that regulate travel between Palestinian towns and cities, as well as access points towards Israel and Jordan.

Impact on movement in the West Bank

In the occupied West Bank, the closure quickly translated into long queues of vehicles and pedestrians at sealed gates and roadblocks, with many residents unable to return home or reach workplaces and services. Middle East Eye reported that hundreds of Palestinians were left stranded at closed barriers late into Saturday night; some slept in their cars or stayed with relatives after being unable to cross.

The Palestinian news agency WAFA said that Israeli forces intensified their presence across the Ramallah governorate and other areas, closing multiple checkpoints and metal gates in both directions. It listed closures at entrances including Atara, Rawabi, Yabrud, Turmus Ayya, Sinjil, Nabi Saleh, Aboud, Deir Abu Mash’al and Beit Ur, severely restricting movement in and out of these communities.

Local education authorities have responded to the disruption by moving classes online, as students and teachers struggle to reach schools and universities due to the closures. Palestinian officials say that with nearly 1,000 barriers and iron gates affecting daily travel across the West Bank, the current measures have compounded long-standing restrictions on freedom of movement. This information could not be independently verified.

Closure of religious sites and key crossings

In addition to roadblocks and local crossings, the Israeli army has ordered the closure of Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem and the Ibrahimi Mosque in Hebron until further notice, according to reporting by Middle East Eye. Worshippers were reportedly removed from the sites before they were sealed off with metal barriers, echoing measures imposed during previous periods of heightened tension, including conflict with Iran last year.

The Karameh (Allenby) Bridge border crossing between the West Bank and Jordan has also been closed, preventing hundreds of Palestinians, including those returning from the Umrah pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia, from entering the West Bank. Al Jazeera previously described the crossing as the primary exit point for Palestinians travelling abroad, underscoring the significance of its closure for those seeking to move in and out of the territory.

Palestinian travellers arriving at the crossing faced delays and uncertainty, with some compelled to wait for extended periods while the new restrictions were implemented. Officials have not indicated when the crossing will reopen or under what conditions, leaving many travel plans in limbo.

Rafah crossing: renewed closure after partial reopening

The Rafah border crossing, situated at Gaza’s southern frontier with Egypt, has been closed “until further notice”, reversing a partial reopening at the beginning of February. According to Xinhua and Syrian state agency SANA, Rafah had reopened in both directions on 2 February to facilitate movement for patients and other travellers after more than two years of extensive restrictions.

Reuters reported that the earlier reopening allowed a limited number of Palestinians, including those requiring urgent medical treatment, to exit the strip after months of severe limitations. The crossing is a critical outlet for Gaza’s population of more than two million people, who remain largely dependent on humanitarian aid amid widespread displacement and damage to civilian infrastructure following prolonged military operations.

Middle East Eye noted that the Israeli army took control of Rafah in May 2024 during its offensive in the Gaza Strip. Palestinian officials say the renewed closure further tightens the siege on Gaza, though Israeli authorities have argued that humanitarian conditions will not be adversely affected by the latest measures. These competing claims could not be independently verified.

Palestinian reactions and allegations of collective punishment

Palestinian authorities and activists have sharply criticised the closures, describing them as an extension of what they call a policy of collective punishment targeting civilians. Ismail al-Thawabta, director of the Government Media Office in Gaza, told Middle East Eye that shutting Rafah amounts to collective punishment that intensifies the siege on more than two million residents in the enclave.

In the West Bank, activist Bashar al-Qaryouti said Israel has adopted a pattern of closing gates and checkpoints in times of emergency, restricting Palestinian movement to protect soldiers manning those positions. He argued that total closures “paralyse daily life”, deepen the suffering of residents — particularly those who are ill — and disrupt essential services.

Al-Qaryouti warned that cutting off aid and food supplies across the West Bank could trigger a humanitarian crisis if the closures persist, citing difficulties in transporting patients, including those requiring kidney dialysis, to hospitals. Palestinian media have reported similar concerns about access to medical care and emergency services, though detailed casualty figures or medical outcomes linked directly to the latest closures have not been published. This information could not be independently verified.

Israeli security rationale and regional context

From the Israeli side, the closures have been framed as precautionary steps rooted in security concerns. In its formal statement, COGAT said security measures were necessary “following recent developments” and emphasised a commitment to maintaining stability in the face of alleged threats.

The decision came as Israel and the United States carried out strikes against Iran, heightening tensions across the region and prompting fears of potential retaliation. While Israeli authorities have not detailed specific threats within the West Bank or Gaza linked to the closures, they have referred broadly to efforts to counter “terrorist activities” and deter actions seen as supportive of Iran.

Syrian state media SANA reported that Israeli forces announced the closure of crossings in both Gaza and the West Bank on Saturday evening, citing security conditions. The move follows earlier instances in which Israeli forces have tightened internal closures or sealed external crossings in response to attacks or perceived escalation, particularly around religious holidays or during military operations.

Humanitarian and socio-economic implications

Humanitarian agencies and local authorities have raised concerns that extended closures could aggravate already fragile conditions in both Gaza and the West Bank. Gaza’s population, which international estimates place at more than two million people, has experienced mass displacement and extensive damage to housing, health facilities and basic infrastructure since large-scale hostilities escalated in 2023 and continued through 2024.

Disruptions to crossings affect the flow of food, fuel, medical supplies and personnel, as well as the ability of patients to seek treatment outside Gaza or in specialised facilities. In the West Bank, the closure of key entrances and checkpoints has implications for employment, trade and access to public services, particularly for those who commute between rural areas and cities or travel daily to workplaces inside Israel.

The Palestinian Ministry of Education’s decision to move classes online points to longer-term effects on education continuity if restrictions are prolonged. Economic activity, including small businesses and agricultural trade, is also expected to suffer from transport disruptions, though comprehensive data on financial losses associated with the current closure has not yet been released. This information could not be independently verified.

Legal and diplomatic dimensions

Palestinian officials and rights advocates have accused Israel of violating international humanitarian law by imposing wide-ranging restrictions on movement that affect civilians. They argue that blanket closures and the blocking of crossings used by medical patients, students and worshippers amount to collective punishment, which is prohibited under the Fourth Geneva Convention.

Israel maintains that its actions are justified on security grounds and fall within its responsibilities to protect its citizens and soldiers. The language in COGAT’s statement highlights a focus on countering what it terms “terrorist activities” and preventing incitement, reflecting Israel’s long-standing security doctrine in the occupied territories.

Regional actors, including Jordan and Egypt, are likely to monitor the situation closely, given their roles in administering border crossings and mediating between Israel and Palestinian authorities. While no comprehensive international diplomatic response to the latest closures has yet been detailed in official statements from major powers, previous restrictions at Rafah and the Jordan crossings have drawn calls from foreign governments and organisations for easing movement to prevent humanitarian deterioration.

What happens next

COGAT has not provided a specific timetable for lifting the closures, stating only that crossings will remain shut “until further notice”. Future decisions are likely to be shaped by developments in the confrontation with Iran, as well as any changes in the security assessment within the West Bank and Gaza.

Palestinian institutions and humanitarian agencies are expected to continue pressing for exceptions to allow medical evacuations, aid deliveries and essential services, particularly if the closures extend for days or weeks. International attention may focus on whether Israel adjusts its policy to facilitate humanitarian corridors through Rafah and other key crossings, or maintains tight restrictions in response to regional and domestic security concerns.

If the closures remain in place without significant humanitarian exemptions, officials and aid organisations warn that pressure on health systems, education, food supply networks and the broader economy in both Gaza and the West Bank is likely to intensify. This information could not be independently verified.