Israel has reopened Gaza’s Rafah border crossing with Egypt in what Israeli media described as a “pilot operation,” marking the first opening of the crossing in two years.
Israeli authorities said preparations are under way for the crossing to begin regular operations on Monday, marking the first step toward a broader reopening after nearly two years of closure.
Israel’s military body responsible for Palestinian civilian affairs, COGAT, said a pilot phase is currently testing and assessing procedures, with movement of residents expected to start once preparations are completed. The operation is being coordinated with Egypt and a European Union mission supervising the Gaza side of the terminal.
According to COGAT, the crossing will reopen for Gaza residents on foot only and in both directions, in line with the ceasefire framework and directives from Israel’s political leadership.
Israeli officials said Egypt requested that initial departures from Gaza be limited to wounded and ill patients, along with their accompanying relatives.
Palestinian health officials say around 20,000 patients are waiting to leave Gaza for medical treatment abroad.
Two Egyptian officials said at least 50 Palestinian patients are being processed to cross into Egypt, with around 200 people per day expected to leave Gaza in the first days, including patients and family members. About 50 people are expected to return to Gaza daily.
An Israeli defence official said the crossing can handle between 150 and 200 people per day in total, with more people leaving than returning because patients travel with escorts.
According to COGAT, only Palestinians who previously left Gaza during the war and have received prior Israeli security approval will be allowed to re-enter the territory in the first stage.
Israeli newspaper Haaretz reported that Israel plans to establish a military checkpoint near the Gaza side of the crossing, a move Egypt has opposed.
Before the war, Rafah was Gaza’s only direct gateway to the outside world that does not pass through Israel and served as a key entry point for humanitarian aid. The crossing has been largely closed since May 2024 and under Israeli military control on the Gaza side.
Reopening Rafah is a key element of the first phase of U.S. President Donald Trump’s plan aimed at ending the Israel-Hamas war. However, the ceasefire has remained fragile, with both sides accusing each other of violations in recent weeks.
Russia and Ukraine exchanged prisoners of war as well as...
Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Tehran has “no trust” in the United States and will only consider negotiations if Was...
Central Asia is entering a period of acute water stress as glacier melt accelerates and ageing infrastructure wastes ...
Baku is hosting the 13th session of the World Urban Forum (WUF13), bringing together political leaders, urban plan...
A U.S. Department of Justice official said Washington was preparing to indict former Cuban president Raúl Castro in connection with the 1996...
Russia and Ukraine exchanged prisoners of war as well as the bodies of fallen soldiers, on Friday (15 May). The swap came as Ukranian officials said Moscow had carried out its largest aerial attack over 48 hours since the conflict started.
Central Asia is entering a period of acute water stress as glacier melt accelerates and ageing infrastructure wastes up to 40% of water supplies, fuelling concerns over food security and regional stability.
A U.S. Department of Justice official said Washington was preparing to indict former Cuban president Raúl Castro in connection with the 1996 downing of aircraft operated by "Brothers to the Rescue", a Miami-based exile group that conducted search-and-rescue flights for Cuban migrants.
Australian citizens evacuated from a Dutch-flagged cruise ship hit by a deadly hantavirus outbreak have returned home after two weeks overseas. The passengers will now undergo quarantine and further testing in Western Australia.
The U.S.-Israeli war with Iran loomed over U.S. President Donald Trump's visit to China, as signs emerged that the conflict is causing a shift in alliances across the Middle East.
When Donald Trump boarded Air Force One for Beijing on Tuesday, he brought two cabinet members whose presence in China would have seemed unlikely a year ago, highlighting an unusual moment in U.S.–China relations.
Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Tehran has “no trust” in the United States and will only consider negotiations if Washington shows seriousness. His remarks came as talks on Iran’s nuclear programme continued, with Trump and Xi also opposing Iran acquiring nuclear weapons.
A new trilateral energy partnership involving Uzbekneftegaz, Azerbaijan’s state oil company SOCAR and BP has been announced during Uzbekistan Energy Week 2026 in Tashkent.
The Eurovision Song Contest opened in Vienna on Tuesday amid heightened political tensions, as Israel competed in the first semi-final despite a boycott by five European broadcasters over the war in Gaza.
China has launched the world’s first experiment to study how artificial human embryos develop in space, marking a major step in understanding whether humans could one day reproduce beyond Earth.
Every day, an elderly woman in China’s Shandong province looks forward to a video call from her son. He asks about her health, tells her he has been busy with work, and promises he will come home once he has saved enough money. She tells him she misses him. He tells her to take care of herself.
Deep in the ancient forests of southern China, researchers have discovered a small, shy snake with an extraordinary survival trick: when threatened, it creates the illusion that it has two heads.
A U.S. Department of Justice official said Washington was preparing to indict former Cuban president Raúl Castro in connection with the 1996 downing of aircraft operated by "Brothers to the Rescue", a Miami-based exile group that conducted search-and-rescue flights for Cuban migrants.
Australian citizens evacuated from a Dutch-flagged cruise ship hit by a deadly hantavirus outbreak have returned home after two weeks overseas. The passengers will now undergo quarantine and further testing in Western Australia.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment