Israel said it will reopen the Rafah Border Crossing between Gaza and Egypt on Sunday, February 1, 2026, after being closed for nearly 20 months.
This move is crucial to advance phase two of US President Donald Trump’s 20-point peace plan to end the war between Hamas and Israel in Gaza.
Rafah Crossing Reopening
The Israeli Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT), the agency which coordinates civilian policy in Gaza, said it will reopen the Rafah Border Crossing between Gaza and Egypt for people on Sunday.
In a statement on Friday, the COGAT noted that the reopening will involve a “limited movement of people only” in both directions, reported the Associated Press (AP).
The Rafah Border Crossing is a critical entry point for essential medical equipment, food and other supplies into Gaza. However, the Palestinian side of the crossing has been under Israeli military control since May 2024.
How Will It Work?
According to COGAT, the crossing will operate in both directions on Sunday. However, the head of the Palestinian technocratic committee (NCAG), Ali Shaath, said that Sunday will serve as a trial phase for operations at the crossing, confirming that it will open for two-way traffic starting Monday.
Israel and Egypt will vet all travelers at the Rafah Crossing under the supervision of EU border agents, COGAT said. Furthermore, the Israeli military will conduct its own screenings for Palestinians moving through the crossing in an adjacent corridor, which remains under its territorial control.
Around 20,000 sick and wounded Palestinians need treatment outside Gaza, as the war has devastated the Strip’s health system.
According to an official familiar with the matter, Israel will allow up to 150 people to leave each day. This includes 50 patients alongside two family members. Meanwhile, up to 50 people who left the enclave during the war can return.
Reopening Decision
The Rafah Border Crossing has been completely closed since May 2024, when Israel took control of the Palestinian side of the crossing. However, it was briefly opened for evacuating medical patients as part of a short-lived ceasefire in early 2025.
Israel has insisted on the return of all its hostages, alive and deceased, before reopening the border crossing. Finally, it recovered the remains of its last hostage, Ran Gvili, on Monday.
“As part of President Trump’s 20-point plan, Israel has agreed to a limited reopening of the Rafah Crossing for pedestrian passage only, subject to a full Israeli inspection mechanism,” the Office of Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, said in a statement.
Egypt, for its part, expressed readiness to receive wounded people and deliver humanitarian aid to the Strip once the crossing becomes operational. “We are 100% ready for the entry of aid and for receiving the wounded from the Gaza Strip,” North Sinai Governor, Khaled Mujawir, told the Egyptian state TV on Wednesday.
“The crisis management center is working on possible scenarios, including the delivery of aid, if developments allow, in preparation for the reopening of the crossing. Coordination is ongoing with the crisis center in Cairo and all state institutions,” he added.
Moving to Phase Two
The reopening of the Rafah Border Crossing is a crucial step to move forward with the second phase of Trump’s peace plan for Gaza.
The plan’s phase two includes the launch of the Board of Peace, the deployment of the International Stabilization Force (ISF), and the reconstruction of Gaza.
In light of this, Netanyahu said that Israel’s primary focus is on demilitarizing the Strip, disarming Hamas and destroying its tunnel network, stressing that the reconstruction process will not begin without these steps.
