Partial reopening of Rafah crossing

ISRAEL announced it would reopen the crucial Rafah crossing between Gaza and Egypt today after months of urging from the UN, humanitarian organisations and ordinary Palestinians — but only for the “limited movement of people”.

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ISRAEL reopens the Rafah crossing for limited movement of people, a key step in the second phase of the Gaza ceasefire after months of humanitarian pressure.

(AFP)

Earlier this week, the Islamist movement Hamas had called for the “immediate transition to the second phase” of the ongoing US-brokered truce in Gaza, namely its provision for the reopening of Rafah, as well as the entry of a technocratic Palestinian committee to administer the territory.

Israel had previously expressed its unwillingness to reopen the gateway until getting back the remains of Ran Gvili, the last hostage to be held in Gaza, who was recovered earlier this week and laid to rest in Israel.

“The Rafah Crossing will open this coming Sunday (February 1st) in both directions, for limited movement of people only,” COGAT, an Israeli defence ministry body overseeing civil affairs in the occupied Palestinian territories, said in a statement this week.