1 hour ago
Last Updated:January 30, 2026, 18:09 IST
The crossing, Gaza’s main gateway to the outside world, has been largely closed since May 2024.
Trucks loaded with humanitarian aid on the Egyptian side of the Rafah crossing wait to cross into the Gaza Strip. (AFP file photo)
Israel on Friday announced that it will reopen the Rafah border crossing with Egypt in both directions over the weekend, allowing Palestinians to enter and leave Gaza after nearly two years of closure.
COGAT, the Israeli military body responsible for coordinating aid in Gaza, said that only “limited movement of people" would be allowed. Entry and exit will be permitted in coordination with Egypt, following prior Israeli security clearance, and will be supervised by European Union officials.
The crossing, Gaza’s main gateway to the outside world, has been largely closed since May 2024. Palestinians who left Gaza during the war will be allowed to return once they receive Israeli security clearance.
The reopening marks a key step for US President Donald Trump’s Gaza ceasefire plan. Israel had previously resisted reopening the crossing, but the recovery of the last hostage’s remains on Monday cleared the way for movement to resume.
Israel Confirms 70,000 Gaza Deaths During War
Meanwhile, Israel’s military has accepted that around 70,000 Palestinians were killed during the Gaza war, Israeli media reported on Friday, citing senior military officials. The figure aligns closely with estimates published by Gaza’s health ministry.
The Gaza health ministry has reported over 71,000 deaths, including more than 480 since a US-brokered ceasefire began in October. Thousands more are believed to remain buried under rubble. Most of the dead are identified as women or children.
Israel had previously cast doubt on the figures, questioning the reliability of the health ministry under Hamas control. Officials said they are now working to distinguish between combatants and civilians.
The October 7, 2023, Hamas attack that triggered the war killed around 1,200 people in Israel, mostly civilians, with more than 470 Israeli soldiers also dead during the conflict.
(With inputs from AFP)
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First Published:
January 30, 2026, 18:09 IST
News world 'Limited Movement Of People Only': Israel To Reopen Rafah Crossing After 2 Years Of Gaza War
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