Israel will allow limited pedestrian movement through the Rafah crossing between Gaza and Egypt beginning Sunday, marking the first reopening in nearly two years.

By yourNEWS Media Newsroom

Israel announced that it will reopen the Rafah border crossing in Gaza on Sunday, permitting limited movement of Palestinians between the Gaza Strip and Egypt after the crossing remained largely closed for nearly two years.

The Israeli military body responsible for coordinating humanitarian and civilian matters in Gaza said Friday that “limited movement of people only” would be permitted through the crossing, according to reporting by The Associated Press. Israeli officials described the reopening as a key component of President Donald Trump’s Gaza peace plan.

Israel has kept the Rafah crossing mostly shut since May 2024, reopening it only briefly for a short period in early 2025. The prolonged closure restricted civilian movement between Gaza and Egypt, including travel for medical care, family reunification, and humanitarian reasons.

Under the announced arrangement, all individuals entering or exiting Gaza through Rafah will undergo security vetting by both Israeli and Egyptian authorities. European Union border patrol agents will oversee operations at the crossing, according to Israeli officials.

Palestinians who left Gaza during the war and receive Israeli security clearance will be permitted to return through the crossing once it reopens.

In a statement issued over the weekend, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said that following Hamas’s return of the final hostage and in line with the peace framework, Israel agreed to reopen the Rafah crossing exclusively for pedestrian traffic between Gaza and Egypt.

Israeli authorities emphasized that the reopening applies only to people, not goods, and that movement will remain limited as security arrangements are implemented.