Israel to reopen Rafah crossing, clearing way for Palestinians to exit Gaza

Jerusalem: Israel will reopen the Rafah crossing in the coming days to allow Palestinians to leave the Gaza Strip for Egypt, the Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT) has announced. According to the agency, the decision is in line with the current ceasefire agreement and directives from Israel’s political leadership.

COGAT said Palestinians will be able to cross after receiving Israeli security approval and in coordination with Egypt, with a European Union delegation overseeing the process. The mechanism mirrors one used earlier in January.

However, there is still no clarity on when Palestinians who have already exited Gaza will be allowed to return via Rafah.

The announcement comes as other developments unfold in Israel and the Palestinian territories, including a Knesset vote on an opposition-backed motion to adopt former US President Donald Trump’s Gaza peace plan, the completion of the first squad commanders’ course within the IDF’s Haredi brigade, and a petition signed by more than 200 cultural figures calling for the release of Palestinian leader Marwan Barghouti.

Israel confirmed on Monday that the Rafah crossing, which sits on Gaza’s southern border, will begin operating under a coordinated system involving Israeli checks, Egyptian cooperation, and EU supervision. The crossing has remained largely shut since Israel took control of it during the Gaza conflict, severely limiting movement for medical patients, students and others needing to leave the Strip.

Officials have not provided a timeline for when the crossing might reopen in the opposite direction for returning Palestinians.

The update formed part of wider regional live coverage that also highlighted political debates in the Knesset, military developments, and renewed calls from cultural figures in Israel and abroad regarding Palestinian detainees.