Egypt denies coordination to open Rafah crossing for Gaza exit

• Egypt denied claims of an imminent one-way opening of the Rafah crossing.
• Cairo insists any reopening must allow movement both ways.
• The position contradicts announcements made by 'Israel’s' COGAT unit.

An Egyptian official on Wednesday dismissed reports circulating in 'Israeli' media that suggested Cairo had agreed to reopen the Rafah crossing soon for the sole purpose of allowing residents of the Gaza Strip to leave.

The official, speaking to local outlets, reaffirmed that Egypt’s stance on the crossing remains unchanged. “If an agreement is reached to open the crossing, then passage will be in both directions,” the source said, emphasizing that movement would include both entry and exit. According to the source, this approach is consistent with the plan supported by US President Donald Trump.

Egypt’s message, observers note, reflects a standing refusal to endorse any arrangement that could turn Rafah into a one-direction corridor for forced displacement, a red line Cairo has stressed repeatedly since the early months of the war.

The remarks came hours after the Coordination of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT) issued a statement on the X platform claiming the crossing would be opened “in the coming days” to enable Gaza residents to travel to Egypt “exclusively.” COGAT added that the move would be carried out in cooperation with Egypt and the European Union mission overseeing the crossing under the current ceasefire framework.

Egypt, however, categorically denied that such coordination had taken place, underscoring that any decision regarding Rafah must align with its broader security and humanitarian principles and avoid contributing to the displacement of Palestinians.