Rafah Crossing to open for ‘limited passage’ of Gazans in accordance with ceasefire, says COGAT

Emanuel (Mannie) Fabian is The Times of Israel's military correspondent

Ambulances wait on the Egyptian side of the Rafah border crossing with the Gaza Strip in northeastern Egypt on February 1, 2026 (AFP)
Ambulances wait on the Egyptian side of the Rafah border crossing with the Gaza Strip in northeastern Egypt on February 1, 2026 (AFP)

The Rafah Crossing between the Gaza Strip and Egypt will soon open for the “limited passage” of Gazan Palestinians in both directions, in accordance with the ceasefire deal, Israel’s Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT) tells The Times of Israel.

Today’s opening of the crossing is “an initial pilot phase,” COGAT says, which is being “conducted in coordination with the European Union Border Assistance Mission (EUBAM), Egypt, and all relevant stakeholders.”

“As part of the pilot for the initial operation of the crossing, all involved parties are carrying out a series of preliminary preparations aimed at increasing readiness for full operation of the crossing,” COGAT says.

“The actual passage of residents in both directions will begin upon completion of these preparations,” it adds.

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