Rafah Crossing: Reopening Announcements Amid Denials
Israel has announced its intention to open the Rafah crossing, situated between Gaza and Egypt, in the coming days. This measure is aimed at facilitating the exit of Palestinians from the territory. An Israeli security official linked this to Israel's support for the current ceasefire with Hamas, which commenced seven weeks prior.
Conversely, Egypt has denied any coordination with Israel regarding the reopening of the Rafah crossing. The State Information Service quoted an Egyptian official source stating that if an agreement is reached, the crossing would operate in both directions (entry and exit) for the Gaza Strip, aligning with a plan from former U.S. President Donald Trump. Trump's 20-point Gaza peace plan stipulates that the opening of the Rafah crossing in both directions would follow the mechanism implemented during a previous ceasefire in January.
Operational Details and Humanitarian Context
The Israeli military body Cogat stated that exits would be "facilitated through co-ordination with Egypt, following security approval by Israel and under the supervision of the European Union mission." This mechanism is described as similar to the one operational in January.
The Rafah crossing has been largely closed since May 2024, following its seizure on the Palestinian side by Israeli forces. Prior to this, it served as a primary exit point for Palestinians permitted to leave during the conflict and a critical entry point for humanitarian aid.
The World Health Organization (WHO) reports that at least 16,500 severely ill or injured Palestinians are currently awaiting evacuation from Gaza for medical treatment abroad. Since the ceasefire took effect, only 235 patients, predominantly children, have been evacuated via crossings with Israel.
Palestinian Authority Involvement and Hostage Situation
Haaretz newspaper reported that Palestinian Authority (PA) forces would assist in operating the reopened Rafah crossing alongside the EU's Border Assistance Mission. A European source indicated that Palestinian representatives had also assisted during the previous ceasefire, but without PA insignia due to reported "Israeli sensitivity" regarding their presence in Gaza. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has previously stated that the PA, which governs parts of the occupied West Bank, would not have a role in the future governance of Gaza.
Haaretz also reported that Prime Minister Netanyahu had reportedly blocked the reopening of the Rafah crossing due to delays in the return of the bodies of deceased hostages held by Hamas and other armed groups in Gaza.
Hostage Exchange Overview
Under the initial phase of the ceasefire deal, which began on October 10, Hamas committed to returning 20 living Israeli hostages and the bodies of 28 deceased Israeli and foreign hostages within 72 hours. By October 13, all 20 living hostages were released in exchange for 250 Palestinian prisoners and 1,718 detainees from Gaza.
To date, the remains of 23 deceased Israeli hostages and three foreign hostages (one Thai, one Nepalese, one Tanzanian) have been transferred. In exchange, Israel has transferred the bodies of 345 Palestinians killed during the conflict.
Two deceased hostages are reportedly still in Gaza: Ran Gvili (24, Israeli) and Suthisak Rintalak (43, Thai). On Wednesday morning, the Israeli prime minister's office announced that forensic testing showed human remains handed over by Hamas the previous day did not belong to either individual. On Wednesday afternoon, the military wing of Palestinian Islamic Jihad, an ally of Hamas, stated it had recovered a hostage body in northern Gaza, which would be transferred to Israeli forces via the Red Cross.
Conflict Context
The 251 individuals abducted by Hamas and its allies on October 7, 2023, were part of an attack that also resulted in approximately 1,200 fatalities. Israel's subsequent military campaign in Gaza has resulted in over 70,100 reported fatalities, according to the territory's Hamas-run health ministry.