Opening of Rafah crossing is just the start of a massive undertaking to rebuild Gaza

By Michele Kelemen

Published February 2, 2026 at 4:53 PM EST

Gaza's key border crossing with Egypt opened briefly for the first time in a year. Only a handful Palestinians were able to leave, but it's an important step in an undertaking to rebuild Gaza.

Michele Kelemen

Michele Kelemen has been with NPR for two decades, starting as NPR's Moscow bureau chief and now covering the State Department and Washington's diplomatic corps. Her reports can be heard on all NPR News programs, including Morning Edition and All Things Considered.

See stories by Michele Kelemen

Support nonprofit, fact-based public service journalism

WEKU depends on support from those who view and listen to our content. There's no paywall here. Please support WEKU with your donation.

Contribute now

Related Content

The Commonwealth

Wolfe County School officials are waiting on word from investigators at the site of the Dessie Scott School fire

Stan Ingold

Arson investigators were on the scene Monday, and insurance investigators are expected on the scene Tuesday.
Amid power outages, an unusual number of locals visit Nashville's honky tonk district

Justin Barney

While winter storms caused major power outages in Nashville, its downtown music scene saw a lot more locals who took up hotel rooms usually occupied by tourists.
An uneasy détente: Trump and Colombia's Petro to meet at White House

John Otis

Of all the relationships Trump has had with world leaders, the one with Colombia's President has perhaps been one of the most volatile - but for the first time on Tuesday, President Petro will hold a face to face meeting with President Trump at the White House.
Scientists release a map of the clearest picture yet of what dark matter looks like

Katia Riddle

Dark matter makes up most of the universe, yet we have very little understanding of it. Scientists recently released a map that gives the clearest picture yet of what dark matter looks like.
The method for estimating a dinosaurs' age at death may be off, research suggests

Ari Daniel

A growing body of research on dinosaurs' closest living relatives suggests the method that's been used to estimate how old a dinosaur was when it died may be leading paleontologists astray.