Tel Aviv, Israel – Israeli authorities announced on Friday their intention to reopen the Rafah border crossing between the Gaza Strip and Egypt. The crossing will reopen on Sunday, February 1, to allow the movement of people in both directions under specific security protocols.
Details of the restart decision
According to an official statement issued by the Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT) unit of the Israeli Ministry of Defense, and reported by Reuters, this step comes “in implementation of the terms of the ceasefire agreement and the directives of the political leadership.” The statement also outlined the new operating mechanism as follows: the crossing will be open for the movement of people only. At the same time, restrictions on the movement of goods will remain in place at this stage.
Entry to and exit from the Gaza Strip requires prior security clearance from the Israeli side. Operations will be managed in full coordination with the Egyptian side and under the direct supervision of the European Union Border Assistance Mission.
