Palestinians in Gaza watched with cautious optimism on Sunday as workers prepared to reopen the Rafah border crossing with Egypt, the territory’s main gateway to the outside world.

Israel announced that the crossing would reopen on Monday, in line with advances in its ceasefire agreement with Hamas.

"The reopening of the crossing is a positive development; however, they have imposed a restriction on the number of individuals permitted to cross, which poses a significant issue," said Ghalia Abu Mustafa, a resident of Khan Younis.

Israeli authorities indicated the crossing would initially operate on a trial basis, with only a limited number of residents allowed to pass.

Suhaila Al-Astal, a woman displaced from Rafah, voiced concern for those needing urgent medical attention. "We desire for a greater number of people to be able to leave, and for the crossing to remain open so that those who are ill can seek assistance abroad and return," she said. "We wish for the crossing to be permanently accessible."