JERUSALEM (AP) — In a significant development aligned with U.S. President Donald Trump’s ceasefire initiative, Israel has announced the reopening of the pedestrian border crossing between the Gaza Strip and Egypt this weekend.
The reopening, slated to begin on Sunday, will initially allow “limited movement of people only” through the Rafah crossing, as stated by COGAT, the Israeli military body responsible for aid coordination to Gaza. The crossing serves as Gaza’s principal conduit to the external world.
Statements from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Ali Shaath, newly appointed to oversee Gaza’s daily administration, indicated the crossing’s imminent reopening. COGAT confirmed that the crossing would open in both directions on Sunday, while Shaath noted that the initial day would serve as a trial, with regular travel commencing on Monday.
An unnamed official disclosed to The Associated Press that Israel has agreed to permit up to 150 people to exit Gaza daily, including 50 medical patients accompanied by two family members. Additionally, 50 individuals who fled during the conflict are allowed to return each day.
According to Gaza’s health ministry, approximately 20,000 Palestinians require medical treatment outside the territory, as the local healthcare system was severely impacted by the war, making advanced medical procedures unattainable.
Both Israel and Egypt will conduct screenings of individuals passing through the crossing, which will be monitored by European Union border patrol agents. Moreover, Palestinians entering and leaving will undergo additional screenings by Israel in the adjacent corridor under Israeli military control.
The crossing has seen minimal activity since Israel assumed control in May 2024 to prevent arms smuggling by Hamas. It was briefly opened for medical evacuations during a short ceasefire in early 2025.
Israel’s decision to reopen the crossing follows the recovery of the last hostage’s remains in Gaza on Monday. Netanyahu announced the limited reopening the following day, emphasizing that Israel’s priority is to disarm Hamas and eliminate its tunnels, prerequisites for Gaza’s reconstruction.
Ongoing Violence in Gaza
Despite the ceasefire, violence persists in Gaza, as evidenced by Israeli airstrikes earlier this week. On Friday, Palestinians mourned the death of friends and family members, with traditional Islamic funerals held for three individuals.
Israel’s military reported that four people were killed on Friday in airstrikes targeting armed individuals near the ceasefire line separating Israeli-held areas from most of Gaza’s Palestinian population. The recent fatalities are part of the 492 Palestinians reported dead since the ceasefire began in October, as per the Gaza Health Ministry, which does not differentiate between civilians and combatants in its statistics.
For further details, visit AP’s coverage of the Israel-Hamas conflict.
