Overview
- Israel started a pilot reactivation of the Rafah crossing on Sunday limited to people on foot, with COGAT saying two-way movements are expected to begin Monday after preparations.
- Crossings require prior Israeli security authorization coordinated with Egypt and overseen on site by the EU mission EUBAM Rafah, with Shin Bet screening and additional checks in an army‑controlled zone.
- Initial passages prioritize medical evacuations and select residents, with early estimates indicating about 200 patients and relatives to Egypt daily and roughly 50 entries to Gaza, according to Egyptian and Israeli officials.
- The fragile truce saw one of its deadliest days Saturday, as local civil defense reported 28–32 Palestinians killed in Israeli strikes that Gaza authorities say included women and children, while Israel said it targeted militants after a Rafah tunnel incident.
- The reopening is a step tied to phase two of the Trump plan that follows the completion of hostage and body exchanges and is expected to facilitate the arrival of Gaza’s interim administrative committee.