Israel to reopen Rafah crossing in limited move under Gaza ceasefire plan

Israel announced on January 30 that it will reopen the pedestrian border crossing between the Gaza Strip and Egypt in both directions over the weekend, a move seen as a significant step in advancing US President Donald Trump’s Gaza ceasefire initiative.

In a statement, COGAT — the Israeli military agency responsible for coordinating humanitarian assistance to Gaza — said that beginning Sunday, February 1, only “limited movement of people” would be permitted through the Rafah crossing, Gaza’s primary link to the outside world.

The decision followed earlier comments by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Ali Shaath, who was recently appointed to lead the Palestinian administrative committee overseeing Gaza’s day-to-day governance, both indicating that the crossing was expected to reopen soon.

COGAT explained that individuals passing through Rafah will be vetted by both Israeli and Egyptian authorities, with European Union border patrol agents overseeing operations at the crossing itself. In addition, Palestinians exiting and re-entering Gaza will undergo further screening by Israel in the adjacent corridor, which remains under Israeli military control.

The Rafah crossing has been almost entirely closed since Israel took control of it in May 2024, a move Israeli officials said was aimed at stopping Hamas from smuggling weapons across the border. The crossing was briefly reopened earlier in 2025 to allow medical evacuations during a short-lived ceasefire.

Although Israel had previously resisted reopening Rafah, progress was made after the remains of the last hostage held in Gaza were recovered on Monday, clearing the way for the move. A day later, Netanyahu confirmed that the crossing would resume operations in a limited and tightly controlled manner.

An Israeli official, speaking anonymously in line with policy, told The Associated Press that the initial phase would allow dozens of Palestinians to cross in each direction. The first group is expected to include medical evacuees and Palestinians who had fled Gaza during the conflict.

According to the official, 50 medical patients will be permitted to leave Gaza, while 50 people will be allowed to return. It remains uncertain whether the medical evacuees will be accompanied by caretakers or escorts, as has occurred at other points during the war.

By Tamilla Hasanova