Preparations begin for reopening of Gaza’s Rafah crossing, officials say | Gaza
Preparations to reopen Gaza’s main border crossing to Rafah began on Sunday, but it was unclear whether any Palestinians would pass through before the end of the day, officials said.
Before the war, the Rafah border crossing with Egypt was the only direct exit point for most Palestinians in Gaza to reach the outside world, as well as a major entry point for aid. It has been largely closed since May 2024.
Cogat, the Israeli military unit that oversees humanitarian coordination, said the crossing would be reopened in both directions only for pedestrians in Gaza and that its operation would be coordinated with Egypt and the EU.
“As part of the pilot study for the first operation of the crossing, all parties involved are carrying out a series of preliminary preparations aimed at increasing readiness for the full operation of the crossing,” Cogat said in a statement on Sunday. he said. “After these preparations are completed, the actual passage of citizens in both directions will begin,” he said.
A source close to the EU mission confirmed the details, and a Palestinian official said the crossing point was expected to open to travelers on Monday. Egypt’s foreign ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Israel has said the crossing will only be opened under strict security controls for Palestinians who want to leave the war-torn area and for Palestinians who want to return after fleeing fighting in the first months of the war.
Many of those expected to leave are the sick and injured who need medical care abroad. The Palestinian Ministry of Health said there were approximately 20,000 patients waiting to leave Gaza.
An Israeli defense official said the crossing could accommodate a total of 150-200 people in both directions. The official added that more people will leave than return as patients leave with their attendants. The official said that the list of people who will pass through the border gate was submitted by Egypt and approved by Israel.
Reopening the border crossing was one of the key requirements of the first phase of US President Donald Trump’s plan to end the conflict. However, the ceasefire, which came into force in October after two years of conflict, has been repeatedly shaken by violence.
Local health officials say Israeli offensives in Gaza have killed more than 500 Palestinians since the ceasefire began, and Palestinian militants have killed four Israeli soldiers, according to Israeli officials.
On Saturday, Israel carried out some of its most intense air strikes since the ceasefire, killing at least 30 people. It was stated that this attack took place in response to Hamas’ violation of the ceasefire when militants emerged from a tunnel in Rafah on Friday.
The next stages of Trump’s Gaza plan call for handing over power to Palestinian technocrats, Hamas laying down its weapons, and Israeli troops withdrawing from the area while an international force maintains the peace and Gaza is rebuilt.
Hamas has so far refused to disarm, and Israel has repeatedly stated that it will use force to ensure the Islamist militant group is not disarmed peacefully.
