Israel set to reopen crossing between Gaza and Egypt under ceasefire agreement

[ad_1]

Israel will reopen the Rafah Crossing between the Gaza Strip and Egypt for pedestrian visitors in each instructions on Sunday, based on the Protection Ministry’s Coordinator of Authorities Actions within the Territories (COGAT) unit.

In a press release on Friday, COGAT mentioned exit from and entry into Gaza by way of Rafah will probably be performed in coordination with Egypt, following prior Israeli safety clearance and underneath the supervision of a European Union monitoring mission, much like a mechanism utilized in January 2025.

COGAT mentioned the return of Gaza residents from Egypt will probably be permitted solely for many who left the enclave through the battle and solely after Israeli safety approval.

Israel will reopen the Rafah Crossing between the Gaza Strip and Egypt for pedestrian visitors in each instructions on Sunday, based on the Protection Ministry’s COGAT unit. REUTERS

The transfer is a part of the U.S.-brokered ceasefire reached in October 2025 between Israel and Hamas after two years of battle.

Along with identification and screening on the crossing by European screens, an extra screening course of will probably be carried out in a delegated hall operated by the protection institution in an space underneath IDF management.

Based on COGAT information, about 42,000 Gaza residents left the territory through the battle, most of them medical sufferers searching for remedy overseas or twin nationals.

Gazans searching for to enter or go away the Strip would require Egyptian approval, with names forwarded to Israel’s Shin Guess safety service for clearance.

Israeli officers mentioned every case will probably be reviewed individually, and senior terror operatives is not going to be allowed to depart.

Palestinian Authority representatives and European Union screens stationed at Rafah are anticipated to conduct preliminary screening of these leaving Gaza.

COGAT mentioned the return of Gaza residents from Egypt will probably be permitted solely for many who left the enclave through the battle and solely after Israeli safety approval. REUTERS

Israeli tanks roll as much as the Gaza facet of the Rafah Crossing to Sinai, Might 7, 2024.

Israeli supervision of exits to Egypt will probably be performed remotely from a management room, the place Israeli officers will use facial recognition know-how to confirm that vacationers are on pre-approved lists earlier than permitting passage.

Entry into Gaza from Egypt will embody an Israeli safety examine at an IDF checkpoint after people cross Rafah, earlier than they're allowed to proceed towards Hamas-controlled areas contained in the Strip.

The Israeli choice was introduced regardless of an upsurge in violence within the Rafah space.

A humanitarian assist truck strikes by means of the Rafah border crossing, between Egypt and the Gaza Strip. STRINGER/EPA/Shutterstock

The IDF mentioned on Friday that troopers in a single day recognized eight terrorists rising from underground infrastructure in japanese Rafah, the southern Gaza Strip, prompting an airstrike that killed at the very least three of them.

The Prime Minister’s Workplace introduced on Jan. 25 that Israel had agreed to reopen Rafah after the IDF concluded “Operation Courageous Coronary heart” to return the stays of Israel Police Grasp Sgt. Ran Gvili, which occurred the next day.