Gaza Rafah crossing remains restricted
- Gaza’s ceasefire has not restored normal life: residents will mark a third Eid al-Adha without animal sacrifice and remain largely barred from the Hajj. - The Rafah crossing is operating as a tightly restricted humanitarian bottleneck, with only limited cases allowed to leave despite February’s partial reopening. - A U.S. State Department watchdog is probing Gaza Humanitarian Foundation spending, while Turkey is assisting talks over roughly 200 fighters said to be holed up in tunnels. (ndtv.com) (arabnews.com) (jpost.com)
1/ Gaza residents are preparing to mark a third consecutive Eid al-Adha under restrictions, without the traditional animal sacrifice or access to the Hajj pilgrimage. The ceasefire that partially reopened the Rafah crossing in February has not restored normal movement, leaving the border as a humanitarian bottleneck for limited cases only. 2/ Eid al-Adha, starting around May 26 in 2026, traditionally involves families slaughtering sheep or goats for sacrifice and sharing meat with the needy. In Gaza, Israeli restrictions on livestock imports have blocked this for three years running. Residents like Umm Muhammad told NDTV: "We can't even afford a sheep now—everything is scarce." 3/ Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca is also off-limits for most Gazans. Egypt controls the Rafah crossing on its side, allowing exit only for urgent medical cases, students, or rare humanitarian approvals—fewer than 1,000 have left since February despite thousands applying. One pilgrim applicant said: "My Hajj dream is deferred again." 4/ The Rafah crossing reopened partially in February 2026 under a U.S.-brokered ceasefire between Israel and Hamas. But operations remain tightly controlled: Gaza side managed by Hamas-affiliated groups, Egypt side by Cairo authorities. Daily exits average under 100 people, mostly aid workers or critically ill patients, per live reports. 5/ Adding to aid concerns, the U.S. State Department's Inspector General launched a probe into the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), a now-defunct group that handled millions in U.S. emergency funding. The investigation targets spending irregularities on food, medicine, and shelter aid distributed in 2025-2026. 6/ GHF, set up post-ceasefire, delivered over $150 million in supplies but faced complaints of mismanagement and diversion risks. State Department officials confirmed the audit on May 20, 2026, saying it reviews "compliance with federal grant rules." No findings released yet. 7/ Separately, Turkey is mediating talks for safe passage of about 200 Hamas fighters trapped in tunnels in an Israel-controlled Gaza area. Sources told Arab News that Ankara is assisting U.S. and Arab mediators (Qatar, Egypt) to negotiate their exit, potentially to Turkey or third countries. 8/ These fighters, described as mid-level commanders, have been holed up since late 2025. Talks aim to resolve a post-ceasefire sticking point: disarmament and relocation. Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan confirmed involvement, saying: "We're facilitating humane solutions." Progress is slow amid Israeli security demands. 9/ Broader context: Gaza's 2.3 million people rely on Rafah and Kerem Shalom for 80% of imports. Ceasefire aid flows have stabilized food rations but not mobility or economy. UNRWA reports 90% unemployment, with Eid highlighting ongoing isolation. 10/ Next steps include Hajj applications closing May 22, with slim odds for Gazans. U.S. probe results expected by Q3 2026; tunnel talks could accelerate if Eid pressures mount. Full Rafah normalization remains distant without broader agreements.
