Palestinians in Gaza looked on with cautious hope Sunday as preparations advanced to resume limited movement through the Rafah border crossing with Egypt, a key gateway to the outside world that Israel says will reopen Monday under the ongoing ceasefire with Hamas.
"Opening the crossing is a good step, but they set a limit on the number of people allowed to cross, and this is a problem," said Ghalia Abu Mustafa, a woman from Khan Younis.
Israel said the crossing had opened in a test, and the Israeli military agency that controls aid to Gaza said residents could begin crossing Monday. But only a small number of people can cross at first.
"We want a large number of people to leave, for it to be open so that sick people can go and return," said Suhaila Al-Astal, a woman displaced from the city of Rafah who said her sick daughter needed help abroad. "We want the crossing to be open permanently."
Israel's announcement came a day after Israeli strikes killed at least 30 Palestinians including several children, according to hospital officials - one of the highest death tolls since the ceasefire began on Oct. 10.
