Israel Reopens Gaza Border Crossing with Egypt: New Opportunities for Palestinian Travel
Israel announced on Friday that it will reopen the Gaza border crossing with Egypt in both directions this weekend, allowing Palestinians to travel in and out of the territory after a long closure. COGAT, the Israeli military body responsible for coordinating aid to Gaza, stated that limited movement of people will be permitted. The reopening of the Rafah crossing on Sunday is a significant development for President Donald Trump's Gaza ceasefire plan, as the crossing has been mostly closed since May 2024. Both Israel and Egypt will screen individuals entering and exiting the crossing, which will be monitored by EU border patrol agents.
Palestinians who had left Gaza during the conflict will be able to return after receiving security clearance from Israel. The decision to reopen the crossing comes after the recovery of the last hostage's remains in Gaza on Monday, which paved the way for progress. Israel had initially been hesitant to reopen the crossing, but recent developments have led to a change in stance.