Israel and Egypt carried out a test reopening of the Rafah border crossing between Egypt and Gaza on Sunday.
Israel’s Coordinator for Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT), which oversees humanitarian and civilian efforts in Gaza, said the border crossing will be open to the public from Monday morning, but only in a limited capacity, allowing around 150 people to cross per day.
Those heading to the border crossing will be picked up by buses and taken into organized groups, with each of them cleared by Israeli intelligence.
Israeli forces will provide security at the border crossings in coordination with Egypt and under the supervision of the European Union mission.
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The Rafah Crossing was opened for a test run on Sunday during coordination between Israel and Egypt. (COGAT)
Return from Egypt for Gaza residents will only be allowed for those who left Gaza during the course of the war, and only after prior security clearance by Israel.
“The Rafah border crossing has been reopened for the movement of people only. Today, a pilot is underway to test and assess the operation of the border crossing,” COGAT said in a statement.
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“The movement of residents in both directions, from entry and exit to and from Gaza, is expected to begin tomorrow,” the statement continued.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says the border crossing will be opened as part of President Trump’s peace plan. (Haim Zach/GPO)
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said last week that Israel had agreed to the “limited reopening” of the border crossing under President Donald Trump’s 20-point peace plan.
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“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 the Prime Minister of Israel wrote.
The Prime Minister’s Office said the reopening was conditional on the return of all living hostages and on what it described as a “100 percent effort” by Hamas to locate and return the remains of all deceased hostages.
The body of Ran Gvili, the last hostage held in Gaza, was brought home for burial on January 26, 2026. (The Hostages and Missing Families Forum headquarters)
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The remains of the last Israeli hostage, Staff Sgt. Ran Gvili, were found by Israel and returned last week.
