At least 12 Palestinian civilians have been killed in Israeli attacks in Gaza on Saturday, January 31, 2026. The dead included 6 children and two women. This incident has happened when preparations have been completed to reopen the Rafah Border (Rafah Crossing) from Sunday, February 1. This will be the first time after May 2024 that people will be able to travel through this route, although strict rules have been made for this.
Where and how much damage was caused in the attack?
The attacks on Saturday caused heavy damage in Gaza City and Khan Younis. Three children, their aunt and grandmother were killed in an attack on a residential building in Gaza City. Meanwhile, a fire broke out after an attack on a tent camp in Khan Yunis, killing seven people, including a father, his three children and three grandchildren.
According to the Health Ministry, more than 500 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli firing since the ceasefire in October 2025. Recently, after the remains of Israeli hostage Ran Gvili were found, it was agreed to open the border, but the latest incidents of violence have increased the concern.
What are the new rules for crossing Rafah border?
Many strict rules have been implemented for the Rafah border, which opens from Sunday. At present only pedestrians will be allowed to move from here. Any kind of goods or cargo will not go through Rafah, it will be sent through Kerem Shalom border only. Israel’s security agency Shin Bet will check the names of all passengers for security.
The European Union (EU) team will be deployed to monitor the border. Israel will not be directly present at the gate, but will monitor it from a distance through facial recognition technology and cameras. Additionally, passengers will have to pass through a separate scanning corridor that will be controlled by the IDF. Initially only 150 to 200 people will be allowed to travel every day.
Travel expenses and medical emergencies
People are having to pay a heavy price to cross the Rafah border. According to reports, Palestinians are forced to pay 5,000 to 10,000 dollars (about Rs 4 to 8 lakh) to brokers or companies to get their names included in the travel list. However, the Egyptian government officially denies charging any such fees.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), currently about 20,000 sick and injured people are waiting to be evacuated for treatment. Under the new arrangement, only 50 people will be allowed to return to Gaza every day, due to which the people trapped there are still facing difficulties.