The critical Rafah border crossing between the Gaza Strip and Egypt may soon resume limited operations for exiting Palestinian citizens, according to an announcement from Israeli defense authorities late Tuesday. The Israeli military liaison body, known as Cogat, stated that it proposed reopening the gateway under an arrangement mirroring the brief operation seen in January, with supervision by the European Union mission and pending necessary security clearances. However, Egypt quickly issued a categorical denial, confirming that while it is open to resuming operations, any agreement must apply to both entry and exit movements and follow a framework that maintains operational parity—a significant point of friction in the ongoing diplomatic efforts surrounding the Gaza ceasefire.
Disputed Terms Hinder Critical Lifeline
The proposed reopening, advanced by Israel as a measure supporting the now seven-week-old truce, aims primarily to facilitate the departure of authorized individuals. Since Israeli forces asserted control over the Palestinian side of the crossing in May 2024, Rafah—historically a vital conduit for aid and the main exit point for Palestinians—has remained largely shuttered. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that over 16,500 critically ill or injured Palestinians urgently require evacuation for essential medical treatment abroad. Disclosed figures show that since the ceasefire began, only 235 patients, predominantly children, have been transferred via Israeli-controlled crossings.
The core dispute lies in the scope of operations. Egyptian state media cited an official source emphasizing that Cairo would only agree to a framework enabling two-way transit, a position aligned with the 20-point Gaza proposal previously outlined by former U.S. President Donald Trump. Separately, Haaretz reported that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had been delaying any crossing reopening due to unresolved matters concerning the return of the remains of deceased Israeli hostages.
Potential Role for the Palestinian Authority
Reports indicate that behind-the-scenes discussions suggest that personnel from the Palestinian Authority (PA) could assist in operating the Rafah crossing alongside the EU Border Assistance Mission (EUBAM). European sources reportedly claimed that Palestinian representatives had quietly provided support during the earlier January ceasefire, adhering to directives to operate without official PA insignia to navigate Israeli political sensitivities regarding the PA’s involvement in Gaza.
This operational proposal clashes directly with Prime Minister Netanyahu’s repeated public insistence that the PA, which currently governs parts of the occupied West Bank, will have no future administrative role in Gaza.
Hostage Remains Remain Contentious
Further compounding the humanitarian and operational challenges is the ongoing process of returning the remains of hostages. Under the agreement that initiated the current ceasefire on October 10—a period negotiated to last 72 hours—Hamas committed to returning 20 living Israeli hostages alongside the bodies of 28 deceased Israeli and foreign captives.
While all surviving hostages were released on October 13 in exchange for 250 Palestinian prisoners and 1,718 detainees from Gaza, the return of remains has been inconsistent. As of late Tuesday, Israel had received the bodies of 23 Israeli hostages and three foreign nationals. However, the remains of two deceased hostages—Israeli national Ran Gvili, 24, and Thai national Suthisak Rintalak, 43—are still unaccounted for. Forensic analysis recently determined that human remains transferred by Hamas were not those of either man, underscoring the delicate nature of the exchange.
The failure to fully resolve the hostage issue, stemming from the October 7, 2023, cross-border assault, remains a significant political obstacle complicating humanitarian access.
The enduring humanitarian crisis, exacerbated by the war that has resulted in more than 70,100 fatalities reported by the Hamas-run health ministry, necessitates an urgent resolution on Rafah’s status. Whether through an EU-supervised mechanism focused on departures or a broader, two-way arrangement acceptable to Egypt, reopening this vital corridor is critical for enabling essential medical evacuations and stabilizing the flow of relief into the devastated region.