Rafah

American

[rahf-ah, rahf-uh] / ˈrɑf ɑ, ˈrɑf ə /

noun

a city split between Egypt and the Gaza Strip and serving as the only crossing point between them.

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

One of those was Azeema Ahmed, 34, a doctor sheltering in Deir al-Balah originally from the southern city of Rafah, in an area that is now controlled by Israel.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 26, 2026

The bus stopped at a checkpoint and the returnees crossed through a barbed-wire-lined passageway to the Gaza side of the Rafah terminal.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 19, 2026

Following what was reportedly US pressure, Israel allowed the opening of the Rafah crossing, but limited passage to patients and their travel companions.

From Barron's • Feb. 4, 2026

Confusion and obscurity has surrounded the reopening of the Rafah crossing.

From BBC • Feb. 3, 2026

A November 2005 PA-Israeli agreement authorized the reopening of the Rafah border crossing between the Gaza Strip and Egypt under joint PA and Egyptian control.

From The 2007 CIA World Factbook by United States. Central Intelligence Agency

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023