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Israel announced Friday that it will reopen the Rafah border crossing with Egypt over the weekend, allowing Palestinians to enter and leave Gaza for the first time since May 2024. The move comes nearly two years after the crossing was largely shut down amid ongoing conflict.
The Israeli military body responsible for coordinating aid to Gaza, COGAT, said only “limited movement of people” will be permitted initially. Both Israel and Egypt will vet travelers, while European Union border patrol agents oversee operations at the crossing.
The reopening is seen as a key step in advancing U.S. President Donald Trump’s Gaza ceasefire plan. Palestinians who left Gaza during the war will be allowed to return if they receive Israeli security clearance.
Israel had previously resisted reopening the border, but the recovery of the remains of the last hostage in Gaza earlier this week cleared the path for action, officials said.
The Rafah crossing, Gaza’s main gateway to the outside world, is expected to operate under strict security measures as authorities monitor movements closely.
*Source: AP News
