Rafah crossing to open 'in coming days' to let Gazans cross into Egypt, Israel says
The missing remains of two hostages threaten to stall the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, while a specific time for the opening of the Rafah crossing has not yet been made clear.
Wednesday 3 December 2025 16:29, UK
Israel is preparing to open the Rafah crossing "in the coming days" to let Gaza residents cross into Egypt – as it claimed that partial remains handed over this week do not match the hostages taken in 2023.
The missing remains of two hostages threaten to stall a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas as it gets close to the completion of its first phase.
Later on Wednesday, Hamas said it had handed over the body of one of the last two deceased hostages in the Gaza Strip. Forensic tests are expected to be carried out on the remains.
A specific time for the opening of the Rafah border has not been given, but it is hoped access will allow people to cross for medical and travel purposes - and will show Israel is still moving forward with the ceasefire agreement.
The coordination of government activities in the territories (COGAT) said the arrangement, which has Israeli security clearance, will be coordinated with Egypt under the supervision of the European Union mission, similar to the mechanism that operated in January 2025.
"In accordance with the ceasefire agreement and a directive of the political echelon, the Rafah Crossing will open in the coming days exclusively for the exit of residents from the Gaza Strip to Egypt," a COGAT statement said.
It did not say whether there would be restrictions on who was allowed to leave Gaza, although they would require "Israeli security approval".
Despite Wednesday's developments, Egyptian state-affiliated al Qahera News said Egypt had denied it was coordinating with Israel to reopen the crossing in the coming days, reported the Reuters news agency.
However, Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said the crossing "will be opened very, very soon".
The exit of Gazans will be "facilitated through coordination with Egypt following security approval by Israel," a spokesperson said.
"The decision was made in full coordination with the mediators of this plan."
When asked by Paste BN how the crossing could open while Egypt has denied any coordination, the office was unable to give more details.
"The information I shared is what I can provide at this time," the spokesperson added.
An Israeli official, who spoke anonymously, said all Palestinians will be able to exit through Rafah as long as Egypt agrees to receive them, reported the Associated Press.
The source said the European Union still had to make some adjustments to logistics before the crossing could open.
An Israeli official said the Rafah crossing would be open only for Palestinians to exit Gaza, not enter, the Associated Press also reported.
Egypt said the crossing would open only if movement goes both ways.
The ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas called for the crossing to be opened for medical evacuations and for travel to and from Gaza.
More than 16,500 sick and wounded people need to leave Gaza for medical care, according to the World Health Organisation.
Gaza businessman Tamer al Burai, who needs treatment abroad for a respiratory condition, told Reuters: "We have been waiting for the Rafah opening for months.
"At last, I and thousands of other patients may have a chance to receive proper treatment."
What Israel's announcement about Rafah really means
The US-led peace plan for Gaza does not actually mandate that the Rafah crossing is opened in both directions. It’s just that that’s how most people interpreted it.
The exact passage says that the crossing "should be open for the movement of goods and people in accordance with applicable security arrangements".
In the eyes of the Egyptians, as well as much of the rest of the world, that sounds like it needs to work in both directions.
But Israel is now proposing a sort of one-way valve where people can leave Gaza, but they can't come back.
You might be able to go out to get medical treatment, but it's not clear how you'd ever return to your home.
It adds to the idea that what Israel, and perhaps the United States, really want is to depopulate the half of the Strip that is not under Israeli control while building up the half that is.
That, certainly on the face of it, appears to breach international law.
Israel's public stance is to claim credit for fulfilling an obligation of the plan before all the hostages have been returned.
But when asked by Paste BN today who would actually be able to cross, bearing in mind that Egypt has said it will issue no permits until the crossing works in both directions, Israel's government spokesperson had no answer.
The crossing was sealed off in May 2024 when Israel's military invaded the area.
It was briefly opened in February this year for the evacuation of sick and wounded Palestinians for treatment, as part of the previous ceasefire deal.
Israel has kept the Rafah crossing closed in both directions since the ceasefire in October, demanding Hamas must abide by the agreement to return all hostages still in Gaza, living and deceased.
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Rafah is Gaza's only gateway to the rest of the world which is not directly controlled by Israel.
It is under the control of Egypt as part of an agreement with Israel and the European Union.
Over the years, the crossing has been closed for long periods at a time.
When people are allowed through, there is the possibility that the crossing will suddenly close without any significant notice.
Hopes for the crossing's opening came as Israel said forensic tests showed that partial remains handed over on Tuesday do not match two of the hostages who remain in Gaza.
The remains were found in Gaza's northern town of Beit Lahiya, according to Palestinian media.
Then on Wednesday, Hamas said newly discovered remains were being returned to Israel. It was not immediately clear to whom they belonged.
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Controversial Gaza aid operation to close down
Twenty living hostages and the remains of 26 others have been returned to Israel since the ceasefire began in early October.
Israel has been releasing 15 Palestinian bodies for the remains of each hostage as part of the agreement.
The health ministry in Gaza said the number of remains received so far is 330.