Israel to reopen Gaza-Rafah crossing after search for hostage remains ends
Israel to reopen Gaza-Rafah crossing after search for hostage remains ends
Rafah crossing to reopen for limited pedestrian passage once the operation to retrieve Ran Gvili's remains is completed, amid ongoing tensions.
Israel says it has agreed to reopen the Rafah crossing for limited pedestrian passage only after completing an operation to locate and return the remains of Ran Gvili, the last Israeli hostage reportedly held in Gaza. The move comes as troops continue a focused search, reportedly at a cemetery in Gaza City, with officials warning the operation could last several days.
The Rafah crossing has been mostly closed since May 2024, when the Palestinian side was seized by Israeli forces. It was intended to reopen during the first stage of the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, which began in October, but the opening remained conditional on Hamas making every effort to retrieve the body of the last hostage.
Israeli authorities described the reopening as limited, subject to a full Israeli inspection mechanism, and noted that pedestrian traffic would be allowed in one direction initially. The move comes as mediators, including the United States, press both sides to take the next steps to advance several proposals linked to President Donald Trump’s peace plan.
Separately, the head of the new technocratic Palestinian government in Gaza said the Rafah crossing would open in both directions this week, signaling cautious optimism about further steps in the ceasefire process.
