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Israel’s Coordination of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT), the military body that oversees the flow of aid and civilian movement, said Wednesday that the Rafah crossing will be reopened in the coming days to allow Palestinians to leave the Gaza Strip for Egypt.
COGAT said the arrangement has been approved by Israeli security authorities and will be carried out in coordination with Egypt under the supervision of a European Union delegation, a mechanism similar to one used in January 2025.
The reopening is described by COGAT as being “in accordance with the ceasefire agreement and the directives of the political echelon.”
Israel did not provide details on when Palestinians who exit Gaza through Rafah would be able to return.
The office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had earlier stated that Netanyahu rejects reopening the Rafah crossing until all the bodies of the Israeli hostages are returned.
It said that the reopening of the Rafah crossing between the Gaza Strip and Egypt will take place only after Hamas hands over the remains of all deceased hostages still held in the enclave, in accordance with the conditions outlined in the cease-fire agreement that ended the war between Israel and Hamas.
The office added that the Rafah land crossing between Gaza and Egypt will remain closed. It clarified, in a statement, that any decision to reopen the crossing will be considered only after Hamas returns the hostages’ bodies and implements the agreed-upon framework.
Israeli media outlets claim that the Rafah crossing remains a point of contention between the parties and a source of concern for Israel’s security agencies.
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