Israel announces opening of Rafah border to Gaza in the near future

Israel announced on Wednesday that the key Rafah border crossing between Gaza and Egypt is expected to partially reopen within the next few days as part of a ceasefire arrangement with Hamas. The crossing, however, will be available only for Palestinians seeking to exit Gaza.

The COGAT authority, responsible for overseeing Israeli policy in Palestinian territories, stated that the reopening aligns with the current truce terms and directives from the political leadership. The agency noted that departures from Gaza into Egypt will occur exclusively through Rafah and will require Israeli security approval, Egyptian coordination, and oversight by the European Union mission.

Egypts State Information Service later disputed claims of confirmed coordination with Israel regarding the reopening schedule. According to an official source, any finalized agreement would need to allow movement in both directions enabling both entry to and exit from Gaza consistent with terms outlined in a ceasefire proposal presented by U.S. President Donald Trump.

COGAT clarified that once functioning again, the crossing would operate under a framework similar to the temporary opening in January 2025, when a limited number of wounded Palestinians were permitted to leave before the route was sealed once more.

The reopening has faced repeated delays since its initial announcement following the ceasefire signing on October 10. Currently, Palestinians have only been able to depart Gaza through Kerem Shalom under stringent regulations. Israel has emphasized that Rafah will not be used as a gateway for humanitarian aid, which continues to be routed primarily through Kerem Shalom.

The European Union has declared its intention to support oversight efforts at Rafah through its Border Assistance Mission when movement through the crossing resumes.

Author: Grace Ellison