Israel reopens Rafah crossing on a ‘limited basis’

Israel has reopened the Rafah crossing between the Gaza Strip and Egypt, in what is a key part of the second phase of the ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu convened his security cabinet for discussions on the crossing point earlier on Sunday. His office announced hours after that it would be reopened on a “limited basis.”

“As part of President Trump’s 20-point plan, Israel has agreed to open the Rafah crossing on a limited basis for the passage of people only, with a full Israeli oversight mechanism,” Netanyahu’s office said.

A sticking point was the return of the last remains of the hostages taken during Hamas’s Oct. 7, 2023, terrorist attack on Israel.

Netanyahu maintained that the reopening of the