- Gaza’s national committee announces full reopening Monday after trial run
ISTANBUL
Israel announced Friday it will reopen Gaza’s Rafah border crossing with Egypt in both directions starting Sunday, allowing limited movement of people, after two years of closure.
The Israeli army said the move comes as part of the ceasefire agreement in the besieged Gaza Strip.
“In accordance with the ceasefire agreement and the directive of the political echelon, the Rafah Crossing will open this coming Sunday (Feb. 1) in both directions for limited movement of people only,” the army said in a statement.
It added that exit from and entry into Gaza through the crossing will be coordinated with Egypt and subject to prior security clearance by Israel, under the supervision of a European Union mission.
The army said the reopening will also allow the return of residents who left Gaza during the war, following coordination with Egypt and after obtaining Israeli security approval.
However, the head of the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza announced a different timeline, saying the crossing will officially reopen Monday, Feb. 2, with Sunday designated as a trial day, according to the Egyptian state-run Al-Qahera News channel.
Ali Shaath said in a Facebook post that the decision came after finalizing operational arrangements among the relevant parties.
“After completing the necessary arrangements between the parties concerned with operating the Rafah crossing, we officially announce the opening of the crossing in both directions starting Monday, Feb. 2, 2026,” Shaath said. He added that Sunday, Feb. 1, would be a “trial day” to test operational mechanisms at the crossing.
Israel has fully closed the Palestinian side of the Rafah Crossing since May 2024 as part of its two-year offensive on the Gaza Strip, which has killed more than 71,600 people, mostly women and children, since October 2023.