Israel is set to reopen the Rafah border crossing on Sunday, allowing people to travel between Gaza and Egypt, as announced by a government agency. This marks the first reopening of the primary entry and exit point for the Palestinian territory since May 2024. The Israeli agency COGAT, responsible for civilian policy in Gaza, did not specify the daily quota for crossings.
Residents who had left Gaza during the conflict will be permitted to return from Egypt after obtaining prior security clearance from Israel, according to COGAT. The reopening of the crossing was a key requirement under the initial phase of President Donald Trump’s plan to halt hostilities between Israel and Hamas militants following a ceasefire in October. Israel had conditioned the reopening on the recovery of the final Israeli hostage’s body in Gaza, which has now been accomplished.
Israel aims to control the flow of Palestinians entering Gaza through the Egyptian border crossing, prioritizing outbound traffic over inbound. However, Egypt has not agreed to these restrictions. Despite ongoing discussions between Egypt and Israel, sources familiar with the matter indicate that Israel plans to allow approximately 150 individuals to return daily through the crossing.
The reopening will focus solely on the passage of individuals, overlooking Gaza’s urgent need for essential aid hindered by Israeli constraints, as noted by humanitarian organizations. The International Committee of the Red Cross President, Mirjana Spoljaric, emphasized the dire conditions in Gaza, urging the easing of restrictions on vital items required for infrastructure restoration.
Amid the backdrop of Israel’s prolonged offensive, Gaza continues to grapple with the aftermath of extensive damage caused by the two-year conflict. The offensive was launched following a Hamas-led incursion on October 7, 2023, resulting in significant casualties. Since then, the violence has claimed the lives of over 71,400 Palestinians, with more than 490 fatalities reported from Israeli actions since October 10, 2025, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry.