Israel has announced the partial reopening of the Rafah border crossing between Gaza and Egypt, marking the first such move since the crossing was seized by Israeli forces in May last year. According to local media reports, citing Israeli authorities, the crossing has been opened on a trial basis for the restricted movement of Gaza residents.
The Israeli military agency responsible for overseeing aid to Gaza said preparations are underway for broader operations, with residents expected to begin passing through the crossing from today. The Israeli army said it has completed construction of a designated screening facility that will be used to process Palestinians entering and exiting Gaza via Rafah.
The crossing has remained largely closed for months amid Israel’s prolonged military campaign in Gaza. Gaza’s Government Media Office director said around 80,000 Palestinians who left Gaza during the war are seeking to re-enter the territory.
