Israel announced on Friday that the Rafah pedestrian crossing between the Gaza Strip and Egypt will reopen in both directions starting Sunday, marking a significant step in implementing U.S. President Donald Trump’s Gaza ceasefire plan.
COGAT, the Israeli military authority responsible for coordinating aid to Gaza, stated that the reopening will allow limited movement of people, initially prioritizing medical evacuations and Palestinians who fled the territory during last year’s conflict. Both Israel and Egypt will screen travelers, with oversight from European Union border patrol agents, while Israel will continue to manage the adjacent corridor.
The crossing has been largely closed since May 2024, when Israel cited concerns over arms smuggling by Hamas. It was briefly reopened in early 2025 for the evacuation of medical patients during a temporary ceasefire.
An Israeli official, speaking on condition of anonymity, indicated that only dozens of Palestinians will be allowed to pass in each direction initially. Gaza’s healthcare system remains under severe strain after the conflict, with approximately 20,000 patients requiring treatment outside the territory, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health.
The reopening is part of the second phase of the U.S.-brokered ceasefire, which includes the challenging tasks of demilitarizing Gaza and establishing an alternative governance structure to oversee reconstruction efforts.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu emphasized that Israel’s priority remains the disarmament of Hamas and the destruction of its remaining tunnel networks. He warned that without these measures, reconstruction in Gaza will not proceed, making Israel’s control over the Rafah crossing a critical point of leverage.
This development comes after the recovery of the remains of the last Israeli hostage in Gaza, which cleared the way for the controlled reopening of the crossing. Thousands of Palestinians continue to seek safe passage out of Gaza, while tens of thousands who fled during the war hope to return home.
