Live Update 
From the Liveblog of
Sunday, February 1, 2026
From the Liveblog of
Sunday, February 1, 2026
Pilot for opening of Gaza’s Rafah Crossing ‘very succesful’ — report
Add ToI as a Preferred Source on GoogleLazar Berman is The Times of Israel's diplomatic reporter
A crane enters the Egyptian gate of the Rafah Crossing to the Gaza Strip, in Rafah, Egypt, February 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Mohamed Arafat)
Israel sees the checks and tests carried out at the Rafah Crossing ahead of its expected opening for pedestrians tomorrow as “very successful,” according to the Kan public broadcaster.
Simulated checks of buses and ambulances were carried out, and the staffers of the European Union mission at the crossing were taken to Rafah by the IDF through the Kerem Shalom Crossing.
It is expected to open for pedestrians on Monday, Israel’s Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT) agency said.
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