Rafah Crossing REOPENS! But What Happens NEXT in Gaza?!

After months of closure, the Rafah crossing between Gaza and Egypt is set to reopen this Sunday, according to Israeli authorities. This is a significant development, as Rafah is essentially the lifeline for the Palestinian territory, serving as the primary point of entry and exit for people.

Rafah Crossing REOPENS! But What Happens NEXT in G...

COGAT, the Israeli government body responsible for coordinating civilian matters in Gaza, made the announcement, although details remain somewhat vague. Crucially, they haven't specified how many Gazans will be allowed to cross each day. What we do know is that initially, the crossing will prioritize the return of residents who left Gaza during the ongoing war. And, as you might expect, Israel will conduct security screenings before allowing anyone to pass through.

The seizure of the Rafah crossing by Israel in May, roughly nine months into the Gaza war, was a major point of contention. Reopening it was, I understand, a key demand in those early de-escalation talks, even figuring into Trump's broader peace plan. The initial agreement struck following a ceasefire in October hinged on this reopening. Israel had previously stated that it wouldn't budge until the remains of the last Israeli hostage were recovered, which, as we now know, occurred earlier this week.

However, there's a catch. Sources are reporting that Israel wants to limit the number of Palestinians entering Gaza, and ideally, see more people leaving than coming in. Frankly, that's a pretty loaded condition. It also seems that Egypt hasn't signed off on this. Despite these ongoing discussions and disagreements, the crossing is apparently going to reopen anyway. The rumor is that Israel wants to cap entries at around 150 people per day.

It's vital to remember that this reopening is only about the movement of people. Gaza is in dire need of humanitarian aid, a point that aid organizations have been shouting from the rooftops. Israeli restrictions, especially regarding what can and can't be imported, have significantly hampered aid efforts. As Mirjana Spoljaric, president of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), recently stated, countless Gazans are "still living in the rubble without basic services, struggling to stay warm amid harsh winter conditions."

And let's not forget the "dual use" policy. Even before the October 7th attacks, Israel maintained a strict inspection regime on trucks entering Gaza, preventing anything that could potentially have a military application from getting through. Considering the widespread destruction in Gaza, following two years of Israeli offensives, the need for aid is immense. Reopening Rafah for people is a start, but it's just one piece of a much larger, and far more complicated, puzzle.