Israel to Reopen Gaza’s Rafah Border Crossing With Egypt on Sunday

Israel said on Friday it will reopen the Rafah border crossing between the Gaza Strip and Egypt on Sunday, ending a near two-year closure of Gaza’s main exit to the outside world.

The crossing will initially allow limited movement of people only, according to COGAT, the Israeli military body that oversees civilian affairs in Gaza. Commercial traffic will remain suspended.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the reopening will be carried out in a “limited and controlled” manner. Palestinian officials said the first day would serve as a trial run, with regular travel expected to begin on Monday.

Israel and Egypt will screen travelers, while European Union border agents will oversee operations at the crossing. Additional checks will be conducted by Israel in a nearby corridor under military control.

The Rafah crossing has been mostly closed since May 2024, when Israel took control of the area, citing security concerns and arms smuggling by Hamas. It was briefly opened in early 2025 to allow medical evacuations.

The decision follows the recovery this week of the remains of the last Israeli hostage held in Gaza, clearing the way for the move under the ceasefire framework.

Thousands of Palestinians are seeking to leave Gaza for medical treatment or family reunification, while many who fled during the war hope to return.

Gaza’s health ministry says about 20,000 people need treatment outside the territory after the health system was badly damaged during the conflict.

The reopening of Rafah is one of the first steps in the next phase of the U.S.-brokered ceasefire agreement, which includes talks on Gaza’s future governance and reconstruction.