Head of Gaza administration body says Rafah crossing to reopen in both directions next week

By Nava Freiberg

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22 January 2026, 1:13 pm

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Nava Freiberg is The Times of Israel's deputy diplomatic correspondent.

Trucks loaded with humanitarian aid on the Egyptian side of the Rafah Border Crossing wait to cross into the Gaza Strip, early on October 15, 2025. (AFP)

The Rafah border crossing will be opened next week in both directions, announces the Chief Commissioner of the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza, Ali Shaath, at US President Donald Trump’s launch ceremony for Gaza’s Board of Peace in Davos.

The crossing was supposed to resume operating under the first phase of Trump’s 20-point plan for Gaza, which came into effect in October, but Israel has argued that it shouldn’t reopen in both directions before Hamas agrees to disarm and returns the body of the final Israeli hostage, Master Sgt. Ran Gvili.

Israeli ministers were reported earlier this week to refuse reopening due to frustration over the inclusion of senior officials from Turkey and Qatar in the Board of Peace’s Gaza Executive Board.

Israel has made no official announcement on the matter.