Daijiworld Media Network - Gaza

Gaza, Jan 30: Israel on Friday announced that it will reopen the Rafah border crossing with Egypt in both directions over the weekend, allowing Palestinians to enter and leave Gaza after nearly two years of closure.

COGAT, the Israeli military body responsible for coordinating aid in Gaza, said only “limited movement of people” would be permitted. Entry and exit will take place in coordination with Egypt, subject to prior Israeli security clearance, and will be supervised by European Union officials.

The Rafah crossing, Gaza’s main gateway to the outside world, has remained largely shut since May 2024. Palestinians who had left Gaza during the war will be allowed to return after receiving Israeli clearance.

The reopening is being seen as a significant step in US President Donald Trump’s Gaza ceasefire plan. Israel had earlier resisted reopening the crossing, but reports said the recovery of the last hostage’s remains on Monday paved the way for movement to resume.

Meanwhile, Israeli media reported on Friday that Israel’s military has accepted that around 70,000 Palestinians were killed during the Gaza war, citing senior military officials. The figure is close to the estimates released by Gaza’s health ministry.

The Gaza health ministry has reported more than 71,000 deaths, including over 480 since a US-brokered ceasefire began in October. Thousands more are believed to be trapped under rubble, with the majority of those killed identified as women and children.

Israel had earlier questioned the credibility of the health ministry figures, citing Hamas control, but officials reportedly said efforts are underway to differentiate between combatants and civilians.

The war began after the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack, in which around 1,200 people were killed in Israel, mostly civilians. More than 470 Israeli soldiers have also died during the conflict.