Rafah, Gaza (Agencies): The Israeli army withdrew from the Rafah border crossing between Gaza and Egypt on Friday, in accordance with the terms of the ceasefire agreement that went into effect on January 19. The army handed over control of the crossing to an international force from the European Union (EU) in preparation for its reopening.
The EU mission will assist Palestinian border workers and permit medical evacuations. The Palestinian Health Ministry confirmed that the crossing would open on Saturday for the first batch of wounded people to leave Gaza. The EU’s civilian border mission will help facilitate the movement of 50 wounded Palestinians daily, along with three escorts per injured person, totaling 200 people each day.
The Rafah crossing, a vital route for humanitarian aid into Gaza, had been closed since May 2024 following Israel’s ground offensive in the southern city of Rafah. The ceasefire agreement, mediated by Egypt and Qatar with support from the US, includes a prisoner exchange and is set to last 42 days, during which further negotiations will take place.
The reopening of the Rafah crossing is seen as a significant step towards alleviating the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, which has been exacerbated by the ongoing conflict.