Israeli authorities announced Friday that the pedestrian border crossing between Gaza and Egypt will reopen over the weekend, ending a prolonged closure and marking a significant development in U.S. President Donald Trump’s ceasefire initiative for Gaza.
Israel’s Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT) said that beginning Sunday, the Rafah crossing—Gaza’s primary exit point to the outside world—will permit restricted movement of people only.
The statement followed earlier comments by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Ali Shaath, who was recently appointed to lead the Palestinian administrative body overseeing Gaza’s civilian affairs, both of whom indicated the crossing would reopen soon.
Although COGAT confirmed the crossing will be accessible in both directions on Sunday, Shaath described the first day as a test run, noting that regular two-way travel is expected to begin Monday.
According to an official familiar with the discussions, Israel has approved the daily departure of up to 150 people, including 50 medical patients accompanied by two relatives each. Additionally, up to 50 Palestinians who left Gaza during the conflict will be allowed to return each day. The official spoke anonymously due to the sensitivity of ongoing diplomatic negotiations.
Gaza’s Health Ministry estimates that around 20,000 injured or ill residents require medical treatment outside the enclave, as the territory’s healthcare system suffered severe damage during the war and can no longer provide many advanced procedures.
COGAT said Israel and Egypt will jointly screen travelers using the crossing, which will be monitored by European Union border officials. Palestinians will also undergo Israeli security checks in a nearby corridor that remains under Israeli military control.
The Rafah crossing has been almost entirely closed since May 2024, when Israel took control of the area, citing efforts to prevent Hamas from smuggling weapons. It was briefly reopened earlier this year to allow the evacuation of medical patients during a short-lived ceasefire.
Israel had previously opposed reopening the crossing, but the recovery of the remains of the final hostage held in Gaza earlier this week removed a major obstacle. Netanyahu said shortly afterward that the crossing would reopen in a limited and closely regulated manner.
Many Palestinians inside Gaza are seeking to leave the devastated territory, while tens of thousands who fled during intense fighting are hoping to return.
The reopening represents one of the initial steps in the second phase of the U.S.-mediated ceasefire agreement reached last year. This phase addresses complex issues, including the disarmament of Gaza, the dismantling of Hamas’ tunnel network, and the establishment of a new governing authority to manage reconstruction efforts.
Netanyahu reiterated this week that Israel’s priority remains dismantling Hamas’ military capabilities. He warned that without disarmament and tunnel destruction, rebuilding Gaza would not proceed—making Israeli control over Rafah a significant source of leverage.
Renewed violence in Gaza
On Friday, Palestinians mourned those killed earlier in the week in Israeli attacks, which have decreased in frequency but continue despite the ceasefire following the return of the last hostage’s remains.
Funeral processions were held for three Palestinians, with mourners carrying wrapped bodies through the streets before performing Islamic burial prayers.
The Israeli military said four people were killed in airstrikes in central Gaza on Friday, alleging they were armed and moving toward Israeli troops near the ceasefire boundary separating Israeli-controlled areas from much of Gaza.
These deaths add to the 492 Palestinians killed since the ceasefire began in October, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry. The ministry does not differentiate between civilians and fighters but maintains casualty records considered broadly credible by United Nations agencies and independent analysts.