Israel said Wednesday that it plans to reopen the Rafah border crossing between Gaza and Egypt. However, Egyptian and Israeli officials don’t agree on whether Palestinians will be able to return to Gaza through the crossing.
Before the war, Rafah bustled with goods and people passing to and from Egypt and Gaza. Although Gaza has four other border crossings, they are shared with Israel, and only Rafah links the territory with another country.
The crossing will be open only for Palestinians entering Egypt, says the Israeli military. It will open in the next few days.
The Hamas terror group has not yet finished handing over all the bodies of the hostages it took on October 7, 2023. Palestinians who leave Gaza will not be allowed to return until that happens. The bodies of two hostages, Israeli Ran Gvili and Thai national Sudthisak Rinthalak, had not yet been returned as of Wednesday morning.
Israel plans to coordinate the reopening with Egypt. The European Union and Palestinian Authority will also assist. Israel says the reopening plan complies with its ceasefire agreement with Hamas.
But the Egyptian government disagrees. It says that any agreement to open the crossing must let people move both into and out of Gaza. It also claims that its interpretation is in line with the ceasefire plan. Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi argues that Israel might use an exodus from Gaza as a way to permanently expel Palestinians.
The ceasefire plan says that the Rafah crossing will eventually reopen in both directions. The reopening would follow the same procedures as an earlier deal created in January. However, the January deal mentioned only allowing sick and wounded Palestinian civilians and some wounded fighters to leave via the crossing.
The ceasefire plan also says that Palestinians won’t be forced to leave Gaza. Those who wish to do so may leave and return freely. They will be encouraged to stay and rebuild their society.
The United Nations recently stated that more than 16,500 Palestinians needed medical care outside Gaza. The two-year war decimated Gaza’s health system.
Pray that all the leaders involved in the reopening would use wisdom and mercy. Ask God to care for those who have been harmed by the war.
