Israel has announced the reopening of the Rafah border crossing between Gaza and Egypt, a significant development following an extended period of closure. This decision, made public on Friday, is seen as a crucial advancement in line with U.S. President Donald Trump’s ceasefire initiative for the region.
The Coordination of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT), which is responsible for managing the flow of aid into Gaza, stated that starting Sunday, there will be a limited allowance for people to pass through the crossing, which serves as Gaza's primary link to the outside world.
This announcement came after remarks from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Ali Shaath, who recently took over the leadership of the Palestinian administrative committee overseeing daily operations in Gaza. Both leaders indicated that the crossing would soon become operational again.
Under the new plan, both Israel and Egypt will conduct screenings of individuals wishing to enter or exit through Rafah. European Union border patrol agents will supervise these processes. Furthermore, Palestinians traveling through the crossing will undergo additional screenings by Israeli authorities in the nearby corridor, which remains under Israeli military oversight.
The Rafah crossing has experienced near-total closure since Israel took control of it in May 2024, citing the need to prevent arms smuggling by Hamas. It was only briefly opened during a temporary ceasefire in early 2025 to allow medical evacuations.
Israel had previously been reluctant to reopen the crossing, but the recent recovery of the last hostage held in Gaza provided the impetus needed to proceed. Following this event, Netanyahu announced that the crossing would be accessible again, albeit in a restricted and monitored manner.
With thousands of Palestinians in Gaza wishing to leave the conflict-ridden area, and many others wanting to return after having fled during intense fighting, the crossing's reopening offers a glimmer of hope. An Israeli official, speaking anonymously due to policy constraints, informed The Associated Press that initially, a limited number of Palestinians would be permitted to cross, focusing first on medical patients and those who had evacuated during the violence.
Gaza’s healthcare system has been severely impacted by the ongoing conflict, making advanced medical procedures nearly impossible to obtain. According to Gaza's health ministry, approximately 20,000 individuals in need of treatment are currently unable to access care outside the territory. Historically, those prioritized for evacuation have included children, cancer patients, and individuals suffering from severe injuries.
This reopening marks one of the initial steps in the second phase of the ceasefire agreement brokered by the United States last year. This phase addresses complex issues such as demilitarizing Gaza and establishing a new governance structure to oversee the rebuilding of the largely devastated area.
Netanyahu emphasized that Israel’s primary focus remains on disarming Hamas and dismantling its remaining tunnel networks. He asserted that without achieving these objectives, reconstruction efforts in Gaza would not be feasible, making Israel's control over the Rafah crossing a critical bargaining chip in future negotiations.
