Under the approved arrangement, Rafah will operate in both directions for people only, with no vehicle traffic permitted.
By United with Israel Staff
Israel on Monday reopened the Rafah Border Crossing to limited pedestrian traffic under strict security conditions, marking the first such opening since the war began and following the recovery last week of the remains of the final Israeli hostage, Master Sgt. Ran Gvili.
The move was approved by Israel’s political leadership under the ceasefire framework after months of keeping the crossing closed as leverage, with officials making clear that no border easing would take place while Hamas continued to hold Gvili’s body.
Under the approved arrangement, Rafah will operate in both directions for people only, with no vehicle traffic permitted. Daily quotas will be imposed, and all travelers will require prior security clearance.
Oversight will follow the monitoring model agreed upon in January 2025, with Egypt transferring passenger lists to Israel 24 hours in advance for approval under Israeli security criteria. Supervision will be conducted remotely to prevent Hamas from exploiting the crossing to rebuild military capabilities or revive smuggling routes.
The reopening came as Hamas announced on Monday that it has completed what it described as procedural steps toward transferring governing authority in Gaza to a technocratic body, as international actors push toward a second phase of the postwar framework.
In January, U.S. President Donald Trump launched the U.S.-led Board of Peace at the World Economic Forum in Davos, outlining a phased transition focused on civilian governance, reconstruction, and economic recovery, including the formation of a 15-member Palestinian technocratic committee.
Despite Hamas’s announcement, the central issue of disarmament remains unresolved. Israeli officials note that Hamas has consistently rejected giving up its weapons and has repeatedly violated ceasefire arrangements in the past, raising concerns that the group may seek to retain its military power even while signaling a limited step back from formal governance.
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