Israel has announced plans to reopen the Rafah border crossing on Sunday, nearly two years after it was shut, marking a significant development amid ongoing humanitarian concerns in Gaza.
However, the reopening will be limited in scope. According to the Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT), a defence ministry body overseeing civil affairs in the Palestinian territories, the crossing will only be opened to allow a “limited movement of people.”
The Rafah crossing, which links Gaza with Egypt, is a critical gateway for humanitarian assistance into the territory. Its prolonged closure has worsened conditions for Gaza’s estimated two million displaced residents, many of whom are facing acute shortages of food, shelter, and medical supplies.
The planned reopening forms part of the second phase of a United States-brokered ceasefire agreement aimed at halting the prolonged and devastating conflict between Israel and Hamas.
Under the terms of the agreement, easing restrictions on movement and access is intended to facilitate humanitarian relief and stabilize conditions on the ground as broader negotiations continue.
More to come…
