Israel to Reopen Gazas Rafah Crossing After Captive Search Ends

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office announced on Sunday that the Rafah crossing with Egypt will reopen in a limited manner once the search for Israeli soldier Ran Gvili’s remains is completed. The crossing, which was initially set to open during the US-brokered ceasefire in October, will allow people to pass through but only under strict conditions.

Netanyahu’s office stated that the move is contingent on the return of all living captives and 100% effort from Hamas to locate and return deceased captives. All captives have been returned except for Gvili’s body.

The Israeli military is currently searching a cemetery in northern Gaza near the “yellow line”, which marks off Israeli-controlled areas, according to an official. Intelligence leads suggest that Gvili’s possible location has been identified.

Hamas claims to have handed over the location of Gvili’s remains with “absolute transparency” and fulfilled its obligations under the ceasefire agreement. The Qassam Brigades spokesperson stated that the group is committed to closing this file permanently and has no interest in procrastination.

The Rafah crossing, which serves as the sole route for nearly 2 million Palestinians living in Gaza, has been under Israeli military control since 2024. The US President Donald Trump’s peace plan calls for a full reopening of the crossing, but Netanyahu’s office announced that access will be limited to pedestrian passage only, subject to a full Israeli inspection mechanism.

Analysts have expressed concerns that such a move could result in the expulsion of Palestinians from Gaza, which has been Israel’s long-held goal. The US President’s plan also calls for Gaza to be governed under a technocratic Palestinian committee and deployment of an International Stabilisation Force to secure border areas.

Source: Al Jazeera