After 8 Months of Closure… Here’s the Date for the Reopening of the Rafah Crossing between Egypt and Gaza

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After eight months of complete closure, the Rafah border crossing between Egypt and Gaza is set to resume operations as part of the agreement that ended the war in the enclave between Israel and Hamas.

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A Hamas official and another informed source told Agence France-Presse on Friday that the Rafah crossing, located at the southernmost point of the Gaza Strip, will reopen on Saturday after the completion of a new hostage and prisoner exchange between Israel and the Palestinian movement. Local Egyptian media outlets have reported similar confirmations from knowledgeable sources.

A Hamas leader stated that “the mediators informed the movement that Israel has agreed to open the Rafah crossing tomorrow, Saturday, after completing the fourth phase of the prisoner exchange.”

The Rafah crossing, the only gateway between Gaza and the outside world, has been closed since Israel took control of it last May as part of its military operations in southern Gaza.

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According to a source familiar with the matter, this decision will allow for the evacuation of the wounded “in accordance with the ceasefire agreement.”

The truce in Gaza came into effect on the 19th of this month, following an agreement brokered by Egypt, Qatar, and the United States, which is being implemented in three phases.

According to the Hamas official, “the Gaza Ministry of Health began preparing a list on Friday of 100 patients and wounded individuals who have been approved for travel, accompanied by 100 escorts—one per patient or injured person—for departure on Saturday.”

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He added, “Additionally, 150 other citizens with urgent humanitarian cases that meet the criteria will be allowed to travel, as per local arrangements in Gaza.”

Meanwhile, the Gaza Ministry of Health announced that the first group of patients will leave the enclave for medical treatment in Egypt on Saturday.

On Friday, the European Union deployed its assistance mission at the crossing, according to EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas.

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In a post on X, Kallas stated that the civilian mission “will support Palestinian border personnel and facilitate the transfer of individuals out of Gaza, including those in need of medical care.”

On Monday, the EU approved the resumption of its monitoring mission at the Rafah crossing, with the participation of 18 European members and local personnel, including police officers from Italy, Spain, and France.

In a statement, the Italian government noted that “the mission was launched at the request of Israel and the Palestinian Authority, with full support from Egypt.”

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The statement added that “the primary objective is to coordinate and facilitate the daily passage of up to 300 wounded and sick individuals.”

A new exchange operation between Israel and Hamas is scheduled for Saturday as part of the ceasefire agreement.

So far, Palestinian factions have handed over 15 hostages to the International Committee of the Red Cross in exchange for Israel releasing hundreds of Palestinian prisoners.

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An Israeli human rights group stated that the hostages to be freed on Saturday include Yarden Bibas, Keith Siegel (who also holds U.S. citizenship), and Ofer Calderon (who also holds French citizenship).

In return, Israel will release 90 Palestinian prisoners, nine of whom are serving life sentences, according to the Palestinian Prisoners’ Club.

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The three-phase agreement stipulates a cessation of hostilities and the withdrawal of Israeli forces from populated areas. The first phase will last six weeks and will include the release of 33 hostages from Gaza in exchange for approximately 1,900 Palestinian detainees.

According to Israeli media reports, Israel will be allowed to maintain a “buffer zone” in Gaza during the implementation of the first phase.

A source close to Hamas stated that the Israeli army will remain “800 meters inside the territory, in a strip extending from Rafah in the south to Beit Hanoun in the north.”

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