Rafah crossing reopening plans have been confirmed by Israel, which says the border point between Gaza and Egypt will open to pedestrian traffic only after a military operation to recover the last Israeli hostage body concludes.

According to a statement released late Sunday by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office, the crossing will remain closed until Israeli forces complete efforts to locate the remains of Master Sgt. Ran Gvili, the final Israeli hostage still unaccounted for in Gaza.

Rafah crossing reopening tied to hostage recovery

Israeli authorities said the military has launched a targeted operation in northern Gaza based on several intelligence leads regarding the possible location of Gvili’s remains. Officials emphasized that reopening the Rafah crossing depends on exhausting all intelligence efforts.

“Once the operation is complete, Israel will open the Rafah Crossing,” Netanyahu’s office stated.

The Rafah crossing is Gaza’s only major exit point not directly controlled by Israel and serves as a critical route for civilians, medical evacuations, and humanitarian movement.

Background to the Rafah crossing closure

The crossing was expected to reopen during the initial phase of a ceasefire agreement reached in October between Israel and Hamas, part of a broader U.S.-backed initiative to end the war.

However, Israel later conditioned the Rafah crossing reopening on:

• The return of all living Israeli hostages
• A full effort by Hamas to recover the bodies of deceased hostages

All hostages have since been returned except for Gvili’s remains.

The Gaza side of the crossing has been under Israeli military control since 2024, limiting movement for Gaza’s more than two million residents.

U.S. Role in Rafah crossing reopening plan

As part of U.S. President Donald Trump’s 20-point peace framework, Israel agreed to a limited reopening of Rafah for pedestrian movement only, subject to strict inspection procedures.

Earlier this week, Ali Shaath, head of a U.S.-backed transitional Palestinian committee, said the crossing could open soon. Israel later clarified that reopening would only follow completion of the hostage recovery operation.

Washington has confirmed that the plan has entered its second phase, which includes:

• Further Israeli troop withdrawals from Gaza
• Hamas yielding control of Gaza’s civil administration

Movement restrictions likely at Rafah crossing

Sources familiar with Israeli planning told Reuters that Israel intends to limit the number of Palestinians entering Gaza through Rafah, allowing more people to exit than enter, citing security concerns.

If implemented, these measures could significantly affect humanitarian access and civilian mobility.

Why Rafah crossing reopening matters

The Rafah crossing reopening is crucial for:

• Medical evacuations
• Family reunification
• Aid worker movement
• Diplomatic and humanitarian operations

Until the crossing reopens, Gaza remains largely sealed off from the outside world.