Preparations have begun to reopen Gaza’s Rafah border crossing with Egypt, though officials say it remains unclear whether any Palestinians will be able to cross before the end of the day.
Before the war, the Rafah crossing served as Gaza’s primary gateway to the outside world for most residents and was a major route for humanitarian aid. The crossing has been largely closed since May 2024.
Israel’s military body responsible for humanitarian coordination said the crossing would reopen on a limited basis, allowing Gaza residents to cross on foot only. Operations would be coordinated with Egypt and the European Union.
As part of an initial pilot phase, officials said multiple parties are conducting preparatory steps aimed at enabling full operation of the crossing. Movement through the crossing will begin once those preparations are completed.
A source familiar with the EU’s involvement confirmed the arrangements, while a Palestinian official said the crossing is expected to open to passengers on Monday. Egypt’s foreign ministry did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Israeli officials said the crossing would operate under strict security measures and would be open only to Palestinians seeking to leave Gaza and to those who fled during the early months of the war and are now returning.
Many of those expected to depart are sick or wounded individuals requiring medical treatment abroad. Palestinian health authorities estimate that approximately 20,000 patients are currently waiting for permission to leave Gaza for care.
An Israeli defense official said the crossing could process between 150 and 200 people in total in both directions at a time. More people are expected to leave than return, as patients typically travel with accompanying relatives or caregivers. The official said passenger lists are submitted by Egypt and approved by Israel.
The reopening of the Rafah crossing is a key element of the first phase of a U.S.-backed plan aimed at ending the conflict. However, the ceasefire that took effect in October, following two years of fighting, has been repeatedly tested by renewed violence.
Since the ceasefire began, more than 500 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli strikes, according to local health officials. Israeli authorities say Palestinian militant attacks have killed four Israeli soldiers during the same period.
On Saturday, Israel carried out some of its most intense airstrikes since the ceasefire took effect, killing at least 30 people. Israeli officials said the strikes were in response to a violation of the truce after militants emerged from a tunnel in Rafah the previous day.
Later stages of the U.S. plan call for governance in Gaza to be transferred to Palestinian technocrats, for Hamas to disarm, for Israeli forces to withdraw, and for an international force to oversee security while reconstruction efforts begin.
Hamas has rejected calls to disarm, and Israeli officials have said they will use military force if the group does not relinquish its weapons voluntarily.
