Ask Onix
Rafah crossing set to reopen for Palestinian evacuations
Israel announced plans to reopen the Rafah crossing between Gaza and Egypt in the coming days, allowing Palestinians to leave the territory for medical treatment and other purposes. The move follows coordination with Egypt and supervision by the European Union, according to the Israeli military body Cogat.
Security and coordination details
Cogat stated that exits would be facilitated under a mechanism similar to the one used during a January ceasefire, requiring Israeli security approval. However, Egypt denied coordinating with Israel, with an official source stating any reopening would allow two-way movement under a plan proposed by former U.S. President Donald Trump.
The crossing has been largely closed since May 2024, when Israeli forces took control of the Palestinian side. Before its closure, Rafah served as the primary exit for Palestinians permitted to leave Gaza and a critical entry point for humanitarian aid.
Humanitarian crisis deepens
The World Health Organization reports that at least 16,500 critically ill or injured Palestinians require urgent medical evacuation from Gaza. Since the ceasefire began seven weeks ago, only 235 patients-mostly children-have been evacuated via crossings with Israel.
Political tensions and delays
Israel's Haaretz newspaper reported that Palestinian Authority (PA) forces would assist in operating the crossing alongside the EU's Border Assistance Mission. However, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has opposed any role for the PA in Gaza's future governance, which currently administers parts of the occupied West Bank.
The delay in reopening Rafah has been linked to Netanyahu's demand for the return of deceased hostages held by Hamas and other armed groups. Under the ceasefire agreement, Hamas was to return 20 living hostages and the bodies of 28 deceased within 72 hours of the deal's implementation on 10 October.
Hostage remains and ongoing negotiations
All living hostages were released by 13 October in exchange for 250 Palestinian prisoners and 1,718 detainees. However, the remains of only 23 Israeli and three foreign hostages have been recovered so far. Among the missing are Ran Gvili, 24, an Israeli, and Suthisak Rintalak, 43, a Thai national.
On Wednesday, Israel confirmed that forensic tests showed remains handed over by Hamas the previous day did not belong to either missing hostage. Later that afternoon, Palestinian Islamic Jihad, a Hamas ally, announced it had recovered a hostage's body in northern Gaza, which would be transferred to Israeli forces via the Red Cross.
Background to the conflict
The 7 October 2023 attack by Hamas and its allies resulted in the abduction of 251 people and the deaths of approximately 1,200 others. Israel's subsequent military campaign in Gaza has killed over 70,100 people, according to the Hamas-run health ministry in the territory.
