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In a significant development, Israel has announced that the Rafah border crossing, the primary gateway between the Gaza Strip and Egypt, will reopen on Sunday. This marks the first time the crossing will be operational since May 2024, providing a crucial passage for residents of the Palestinian territory.
The Coordination of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT), the Israeli agency responsible for managing civilian affairs in the area, has not specified the number of individuals from Gaza’s population of over two million who will be permitted to use the crossing each day.
COGAT clarified that the crossing will initially allow the return of residents who left Gaza during the conflict, contingent upon coordination with Egyptian authorities and prior security clearance from Israel.
Both Israel and Egypt will conduct thorough checks on individuals seeking to pass through the crossing, with oversight provided by European Union border patrol officers to ensure proper monitoring and management.
In addition to the inspections at Rafah, Palestinians traveling in and out will also undergo security screenings by Israeli authorities in the adjacent corridor, which remains under the control of the Israeli military.
Israel seized the border crossing in May 2024, about nine months into the Gaza Strip war.
Reopening it was an important requirement under the first phase of US President Donald Trump’s plan to stop fighting between Israel and Hamas militants, which followed a ceasefire agreed in October.
Israel had said it would reopen it only after recovering the body of the last Israeli hostage in the Gaza Strip, which took place this week.
Reuters previously reported that Israel wants to restrict the number of Palestinians entering the strip through the border crossing with Egypt to ensure that more are allowed out than in.
Egypt has not agreed to that.
A source familiar with the matter said the crossing would open despite ongoing discussions between Egypt and Israel over the issue, saying that Israel wants to allow about 150 people to come back per day.
The opening will solely allow the passage of people, even though the Gaza Strip remains in need of vital aid that humanitarian organisations say has been stymied by Israeli restrictions.
“Many people in Gaza are still living in the rubble without basic services, struggling to stay warm amid harsh winter conditions,” International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) president Mirjana Spoljaric said in a statement on Friday.
She called for an easing of restrictions on “dual use” items like water pipes and generators, “which are essential for restoring the essential infrastructure people rely on”.
Under a policy that long pre-dates the October 7 Hamas attack on Israel and ensuing war, Israel inspects trucks bound for the Gaza Strip to stop any items it considers to have potential “dual use” — civilian or military.
The enclave has been devastated by Israel’s two-year offensive, which has left most of the strip in ruins and displaced virtually the entire population.
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