The Rafah crossing will reopen for limited passenger movement after months of closure, though key details on capacity remain unclear amid ongoing violence.
RAFAH: Israel will partially reopen the vital Rafah crossing between Gaza and Egypt on Sunday.
The move follows months of pressure from humanitarian groups and the recent recovery of the last Israeli hostage’s remains.
The Israeli defence ministry body COGAT announced the limited reopening for passenger movement only.
Entry and exit will require prior Israeli security clearance and be coordinated with Egypt under EU supervision.
However, key operational details remain unresolved.
Sources at the border told AFP that the number of Palestinians permitted to cross has not yet been agreed.
The crossing is set to open on a trial basis on Sunday to allow the passage of wounded individuals.
A regular reopening is scheduled for Monday, according to three sources at the crossing.
For Gazans like 33-year-old Mohammed Shamiya, the reopening is urgently needed.
“Every day that passes drains my life and worsens my condition,” said Shamiya, who requires dialysis treatment abroad.
The Rafah crossing is the only entry and exit point to Gaza that does not pass through Israel.
It has been largely closed since Israeli forces seized control in May 2024.
Its reopening was a condition of a US-brokered ceasefire that took effect in October.
The ceasefire entered its second phase after the return of all Israeli hostages, including the remains of Ran Gvili.
The reopening is also expected to allow a new Palestinian technocratic body to enter Gaza.
The 15-member National Committee for the Administration of Gaza (NCAG) will oversee day-to-day governance for the territory’s 2.2 million residents.
Violence continued in Gaza ahead of the scheduled reopening.
Gaza’s civil defence agency reported at least 32 people were killed in Israeli air strikes on Saturday.
Israel’s military said the strikes were retaliation for a ceasefire violation involving eight Palestinian fighters exiting a tunnel.
