US EditionIsrael to reopen Gaza's Rafah crossing after search for last hostage body ends
Israel will allow pedestrian passage through Rafah crossing after recovering the last hostage's remains, following a US-brokered ceasefire plan and strict inspection protocols.
- On Sunday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office announced Israel agreed to a restricted reopening of the Rafah Crossing for foot traffic only under former U.S. President Donald Trump's 20-point initiative, saying the move will proceed in line with agreements reached with the US.
- The Prime Minister's Office said the opening is tied to hostage returns, with the Israel Defense Forces searching Gaza cemeteries to recover Ran Gvili's remains after Hamas released other hostages.
- Operationally, EU Border Assistance Mission and Palestinian Authority officers will staff the crossing, COGAT will bus Palestinians, Egypt provides daily vetted name lists, and Israel controls entry and exit.
- Humanitarian groups note Rafah's role; over 17,000 people completed paperwork, 2.2 million denied travel including 5,200 children, and 30,000 registered for return, with reopening in the coming days.
- Israeli media reported US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner pressed Netanyahu in Jerusalem, while reports say the US, Egypt, Qatar and Turkey imposed the Rafah reopening as the Trump administration declared the ceasefire's second phase underway.
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192 Articles
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What to know about Gaza’s Rafah crossing, which could open within days
By SAM METZ and JULIA FRANKEL, Associated Press JERUSALEM (AP) — For Palestinians in Gaza, the Rafah border crossing to Egypt is their gateway to the world. But since Israel seized it in May 2024, it has been largely shut. Now Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says the crossing will reopen soon, as the U.S.-brokered Israel-Hamas ceasefire plan moves into its second phase. That raises hopes for thousands of war-wounded Palestinians seeki…
A father awaits Rafah crossing reopening after 2-year separation from family in Gaza
Tens of thousands of Palestinians await the reopening of the Rafah crossing into Gaza so they can reunite with family. Israel is expected to reopen the border crossing between Egypt and Gaza in a matter of days after Monday's recovery…
While Israel was watching Meitar, where the State funeral was held to fire Ran Gvili, the last remaining hostage in Gaza, in the Gaza Strip all eyes were on Rafah. The Israelis linked the reopening of the border crossing to the handing over of Gvili’s body, now it is their turn to move records and comply with the agreement. The United Nations recalled the desperation of the Palestinians at the reopening of their only door to the outside because …
Cut off from the world by the war, the Palestinians in Gaza are looking forward to the imminent reopening of the Rafah border crossing with Egypt, the only way out of the territory without passing
What to know about the Rafah border crossing, Gaza's lifeline to the world that could reopen soon
Israel on Monday announced that the remains of the final hostage in Gaza, Ran Gvili, had been recovered. Hours earlier, Israel had said it would open the Rafah crossing with limitations once the search operation for Gvili was complete.
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