Israel announced on Friday that it will reopen the Rafah border crossing with Egypt in both directions over the weekend, allowing Palestinians to enter and leave Gaza for the first time in nearly two years.
COGAT, the Israeli military body responsible for coordinating aid in Gaza, said only “limited movement of people” would be permitted. Entry and exit will require prior Israeli security clearance and coordination with Egypt, and the process will be supervised by European Union officials.
The Rafah crossing, Gaza’s main gateway to the outside world, has been largely closed since May 2024. Palestinians who left Gaza during the war will be allowed to return once they receive security approval from Israel.
The reopening is seen as a significant step under US President Donald Trump’s Gaza ceasefire plan. Israel had previously resisted reopening the crossing, but the recent recovery of the last hostage’s remains cleared the way for limited movement to resume.
Casualty Figures
Meanwhile, Israeli officials have acknowledged that around 70,000 Palestinians were killed during the Gaza war, according to Israeli media citing senior military sources. This estimate closely matches figures reported by Gaza’s health ministry, which puts the death toll at over 71,000, including more than 480 deaths since a US-brokered ceasefire began in October 2025. Thousands more are believed to remain buried under rubble, with most of the deceased reported to be women or children.
Israel had previously questioned the accuracy of the health ministry’s data, citing Hamas control. Officials said they are now working to differentiate between combatants and civilians.
The October 7, 2023, Hamas attack that triggered the conflict killed around 1,200 people in Israel, mostly civilians, along with more than 470 Israeli soldiers.
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