Gaza-Egypt Border Reopens: Israel Eases Restrictions

Israel announced Friday it will reopen the pedestrian border crossing between the Gaza Strip and Egypt in both directions over the weekend, a significant step forward in the implementation of U.S. President Donald Trump’s Gaza ceasefire plan.

Reopening of Rafah Crossing

COGAT, the Israeli military body responsible for coordinating aid to Gaza, stated that starting Sunday, a “limited movement of people only” will be permitted through the Rafah crossing, Gaza’s primary gateway to the outside world.

The announcement followed statements from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Ali Shaath, recently appointed to lead the Palestinian administrative committee governing Gaza’s daily affairs, indicating the crossing would likely reopen soon.

Both Israel and Egypt will vet individuals for entry and exit through the crossing, which will be monitored by European Union border patrol agents. Palestinians leaving and returning will also undergo screening by Israel in an adjacent corridor that remains under Israeli military control, according to COGAT.

The Rafah crossing has been largely closed since May 2024, when Israel seized it as part of its strategy to prevent cross-border arms smuggling by Hamas. It was briefly opened for the evacuation of medical patients during a short-lived ceasefire in early 2025.

Israel’s decision to reopen the crossing came after the recovery of the remains of the last hostage held in Gaza on Monday. Netanyahu stated a day later that the crossing would open in a limited and controlled manner.

Thousands of Palestinians in Gaza are seeking to leave the territory, while tens of thousands who fled during the fighting wish to return home. An Israeli official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said that initially, dozens of Palestinians would be allowed through each way, prioritizing medical evacuees and those who left during the war.

Gaza’s healthcare system has been severely damaged by the conflict, limiting access to advanced medical procedures. Approximately 20,000 sick and wounded Palestinians require treatment outside Gaza, according to the territory’s health ministry. Evacuations have primarily focused on children, cancer patients, and those with physical trauma.

The reopening represents one of the initial steps in the second phase of last year’s U.S.-brokered ceasefire agreement, which includes complex issues such as demilitarizing Gaza and establishing an alternative government to oversee reconstruction of the largely destroyed enclave. Netanyahu emphasized Israel’s focus on disarming Hamas and destroying its tunnels, stating that reconstruction will not occur without these measures.