From the Liveblog of
Friday, January 31, 2025
Rafah crossing between Gaza-Egypt to reopen for Palestinian civilians today instead of Sunday — report
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The Rafah Border Crossing between Egypt and the Gaza Strip is set to reopen for the passage of Palestinian civilians today, according to the Kan broadcaster, despite being scheduled for Sunday under a hostage-ceasefire deal between Israel and the Hamas terror group.
Under the agreement, the crossing on Gaza’s southern border is allowed to open after the terror group releases all female hostages, both IDF soldiers and civilians.
Two female hostages — one soldier and one civilian — were among three Israeli captives freed from Gaza by Palestinian terror groups yesterday under the hostage agreement. Five Thai nationals were also released yesterday, separate from the agreement.
The first stage in the three-phase accord provides for 33 hostages to be released in exchange for up to 2,000 Palestinian prisoners. Living hostages are being released first. Ten Israeli hostages have already been released under the deal — nine women and one man. Eight of the 33 are understood by Israel to be dead.
Kan reports that the crossing will be monitored by a European security force along with Palestinian officials not affiliated with Hamas.
The Rafah crossing has already reopened for humanitarian aid deliveries as part of the ceasefire, after being closed in May when Israel seized the area, with Egypt refusing to reopen the gateway until it was back under Palestinian control.
The crossing is a major conduit for aid into Gaza and its closure has worsened the humanitarian crisis caused by the war, which was sparked by Hamas’s devastating attack on southern Israel in October 2023.
The Times of Israel Community.