‘Israel’ to open Rafah Crossing once search for last captive ends
Note: AI technology was used to generate this article’s audio.
- ‘Israel’ announced a "limited reopening" of the Rafah crossing for pedestrian passage only, implementing a strict ‘Israeli’-led inspection mechanism as part of "Phase 2" of the Trump administration’s 20-point peace plan.
- The decision follows intense lobbying by US envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff to bypass the standoff over the remains of ‘Israeli’ captive Ran Gvili.
‘Israel’ announced on Monday a “limited reopening” of the Rafah border crossing between the Gaza Strip and Egypt, in line with the ceasefire agreement that has been in effect since October 10.
The office of ‘Israeli ‘Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu wrote on X (formerly Twitter): “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 Rafah crossing is a key entry point for humanitarian aid into Gaza, and the United Nations and other humanitarian organizations have long called for its reopening.
However, since the ceasefire came into effect on October 10, ‘Israeli’ authorities have not allowed the crossing to reopen, citing Hamas’s failure to return the body of the last ‘Israeli’ captive still in Gaza—the police officer Ran Gvili—and the need to coordinate with Egypt.
On Sunday, Hebrew media reported that US presidential envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff urged Netanyahu to reopen the Rafah crossing without waiting for the return of Gvili’s body.
Meanwhile, Gvili’s family appealed to ‘Israeli’ authorities not to proceed with the second phase of the US plan for Gaza until his body was returned.
Kushner and Witkoff arrived in ‘Israel’ on Sunday to hold talks with Netanyahu on Gaza’s future.
Following the US announcement to move forward with the second phase of Trump’s plan, the US president unveiled last week at the World Economic Forum in Davos his vision for a “New Gaza,” aiming to transform the war-torn Palestinian territory into a luxury coastal resort with skyscrapers.
The second phase calls for disarming Hamas, the gradual withdrawal of ‘Israeli’ forces—which still control about half of Gaza—and the deployment of an international force.
The agreement ended ‘Israel’s’ intense bombardment of Gaza, where residents face a severe humanitarian crisis, but ‘Israel’ and Hamas continue to exchange accusations of violating its terms.
