The Israeli Ministry of Defense, which oversees civilian activities in the Palestinian territories, said in a memorandum, “In accordance with the ceasefire agreement and directives from the political leadership, the Rafah crossing will be opened in the coming days exclusively for residents of the Gaza Strip to leave towards Egypt.”
The statement specified that the exit of Gazans through the Rafah crossing will be facilitated through “coordination with Egypt, after Israeli security approval, and under the supervision of the European Union mission,” similar to the mechanism that was implemented in January 2025.
Three crossings are open for goods
So far, only the Zikim, Kerem Shalom and Kissufim crossings have remained open, operating exclusively for the entry of humanitarian aid into the Palestinian Strip.
The war and the siege of the crossings continued until October 10, when a ceasefire was implemented and some border crossings were reopened to the entry of humanitarian supplies and goods.
But among the points of the peace plan promoted by US President Donald Trump, which supports a cessation of hostilities, is also the opening of the Rafah crossing, which remains closed and under Israeli control, and which until its closure was the only window from the Strip to the world for the crossing of people and goods not under Israel’s control.
Rafah, delayed due to hostages and the entrenchment of Hamas
Additionally, in Rafah, dozens of Hamas militiamen remain holed up (some hundreds, according to the IDF) and there have been incidents with Israeli forces since the ceasefire. Hamas is considered a terrorist organization in the eyes of Israel, the United States and the European Union.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had previously confirmed that opening the Rafah crossing “will be considered depending on how Hamas (the Palestinian Islamic group) plays its role by returning the kidnapped people and implementing the agreed upon framework.”
Israel controls more than 50% of the Gaza Strip
Israeli forces still control more than 50% of Gaza’s territory, although the ceasefire agreement signed by Israel and Hamas in October includes their full withdrawal in the second phase, which is still awaiting negotiation through mediators.
In all, since Israel began its offensive on Gaza in response to Hamas attacks in October 2023, which left about 1,200 people dead on the Israeli side and more than 250 hostages, at least 70,100 Palestinians in Gaza have died in Israeli attacks and more than 170,986 have been injured, many with amputations and lifelong injuries, according to official Israeli data and the Palestinian enclave’s Ministry of Health at straight.
RML (Effie, AFP)