Israel preparing to open Rafah crossing on Gaza-Egypt border

The Rafah crossing on the Gaza-Egypt border will open on Sunday, February 1, Israel’s Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT) announced.

"In accordance with the ceasefire agreement and the directive of the [Israeli] political echelon, the Rafah crossing will open this coming Sunday (February 1) in both directions, for limited movement of people only," the statement reads.

It noted that entry into and exit from the Gaza Strip through this border crossing will be permitted in coordination with Egypt after preliminary checks by Israeli security services and under the supervision of a European Union mission. A similar mechanism was in place when the Rafah crossing was last opened in January 2025, COGAT recalled.

Entry into Gaza will be permitted exclusively to local residents who left the enclave during the hostilities, "following prior security clearance of individuals by Israel," the office emphasized.

At the same time, head of the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza (NCAG) Ali Shaath said that the Rafah crossing will resume operation in both directions on February 2.