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Israel Announces Limited Reopening of Rafah Border Crossing

Published January 26, 2026, 06:10
Israel Announces Limited Reopening of Rafah Border Crossing

Israel has announced a “limited reopening” of the Rafah border crossing, on the border between the Gaza Strip and Egypt, as stipulated by the ceasefire agreement. The opening will be exclusively for pedestrians and will be subject to full Israeli control. Rafah is a critical entry point for humanitarian aid to Gaza, and its opening had been requested by the United Nations and other organizations. The decision comes after pressure from the United States, with envoys from President Trump urging Prime Minister Netanyahu to open Rafah without waiting for the repatriation of the remains of soldier Ran Gvili. Gvili’s family had opposed the move, demanding the return of the remains before any further developments. At the same time, the Israeli army is conducting a “targeted operation” to locate and return Gvili’s remains. The border crossing will open once the operation is completed, according to agreements with the United States. This move is considered important for restoring the flow of humanitarian aid to Gaza. Also in Israel are Admiral Brad Cooper, head of CENTCOM, for talks about Iran, and Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff, Trump’s envoys, regarding the future of the Gaza Strip. Trump has presented a plan for the “New Gaza,” aiming to transform it into a luxury tourist resort.