Israel will reopen the Rafah border crossing on Sunday for people to travel between the Gaza Strip and Egypt, a government agency says, the first opening of effectively the sole route in or out of the Palestinian territory since May 2024.
The Israeli government agency that co-ordinates civilian policy in the enclave, COGAT, did not say how many of the Gaza Strip’s more than two million people would be allowed to cross the border per day.
“The return of residents from Egypt to the Gaza Strip will be permitted, in co-ordination with Egypt, for residents who left Gaza during the course of the war only, and only after prior security clearance by Israel,” COGAT said.
COGAT said both Israel and Egypt will vet individuals for exit and entry through the crossing, which will be supervised by European Union border patrol agents.
In addition to screenings at the crossing, Palestinians leaving and returning will be screened by Israel in the adjacent corridor, which remains under Israeli military control.
Israel seized the border crossing in May 2024, about nine months into the Gaza Strip war.
Reopening it was an important requirement under the first phase of US President Donald Trump’s plan to stop fighting between Israel and Hamas militants, which followed a ceasefire agreed in October.
Israel had said it would reopen it only after recovering the body of the last Israeli hostage in the Gaza Strip, which took place this week.
Reuters previously reported that Israel wants to restrict the number of Palestinians entering the strip through the border crossing with Egypt to ensure that more are allowed out than in.
Egypt has not agreed to that.
A source familiar with the matter said the crossing would open despite ongoing discussions between Egypt and Israel over the issue, saying that Israel wants to allow about 150 people to come back per day.
The opening will solely allow the passage of people, even though the Gaza Strip remains in need of vital aid that humanitarian organisations say has been stymied by Israeli restrictions.
“Many people in Gaza are still living in the rubble without basic services, struggling to stay warm amid harsh winter conditions,” International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) president Mirjana Spoljaric said in a statement on Friday.
She called for an easing of restrictions on “dual use” items like water pipes and generators, “which are essential for restoring the essential infrastructure people rely on”.
Under a policy that long pre-dates the October 7 Hamas attack on Israel and ensuing war, Israel inspects trucks bound for the Gaza Strip to stop any items it considers to have potential “dual use” — civilian or military.
The enclave has been devastated by Israel’s two-year offensive, which has left most of the strip in ruins and displaced virtually the entire population.
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