Relief for Gaza: Israel Announces Reopening of Rafah Crossing from Wednesday

Kathmandu: Israel’s Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT) has announced that the Rafah Crossing, a vital lifeline for residents of the Gaza Strip, will be reopened from Wednesday.

Issuing a statement, COGAT said that this border crossing will be opened only for the limited movement of people in both directions. COGAT stated that this decision was made following a security assessment and an examination of the conditions enabling the resumption of operations at the crossing, while maintaining the necessary security restrictions in light of the security situation and the threats in the area.

The statement said, “The passage of residents through the crossing will be facilitated in coordination with Egypt, following prior security approval by Israel and under the supervision of the European Union mission.”

Located at the southernmost tip of Gaza, the Rafah crossing had remained largely closed since Israeli forces took control of the area in May 2024, which completely cut off Gaza from the outside world and exacerbated the humanitarian crisis. Its limited operation had resumed on February 2 under the latest ceasefire agreement that took effect on October 10, 2025. However, following the joint US-Israel attack on February 28, all crossings into Gaza, including Rafah, were closed until further notice.