Israel to Reopen Rafah Crossing for Authorized Gazans to Exit to Egypt

Israel announced that it will reopen the Rafah Border Crossing in the coming days for Palestinians to exit Gaza to Egypt. Cairo denied coordinating with Jerusalem on the reopening. The move is in accordance with the ceasefire agreement and political leadership directives. Palestinians will be able to leave Gaza through the Rafah Crossing with Egyptian coordination and Israeli security approval, monitored by a European Union delegation. An Israeli official mentioned that Palestinians can exit Gaza through Rafah, pending Egyptian approval, but people can’t return to Gaza through the crossing yet. The EU needs to make logistical adjustments for the reopening. There’s no information on when Palestinians will be able to return to Gaza. Egypt denied coordinating with Israel on the crossing’s reopening, stating that traffic will flow in both directions. The US-brokered ceasefire deal required the crossing to open for medical evacuations and travel. The crossing remained closed as Hamas hadn’t returned hostages Master Sgt. Ran Gvili and Sudthisak Rinthalak. Hamas announced it would hand over a deceased hostage’s body to Israel. The crossing was closed after Israeli forces took control of the Gaza side in May 2024, briefly reopening in early 2025. Approximately 16,500 patients in Gaza need medical care outside the enclave, with some leaving through Israel for treatment. The Rafah Crossing was the main exit point for authorized Gaza residents, under blockade since 2007.