JERUSALEM, Jan. 30 (Xinhua) -- Israel will reopen the Rafah crossing between the Gaza Strip and Egypt for pedestrian traffic in both directions on Sunday, an Israeli government-affiliated body announced in a statement on Friday.
Israel's office of the Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories said in the statement that exit from and entry into the Gaza Strip via the Rafah crossing "will be permitted in coordination with Egypt, following prior security clearance of individuals by Israel, and under the supervision of the European Union mission."
In addition to initial identification and screening at the Rafah crossing by the European Union mission, the body said, an "additional screening and identification process" will be conducted at a designated corridor, operated by the Israeli military.
The move is part of a U.S.-proposed Gaza ceasefire plan. Israel said last Sunday that it would reopen the Rafah crossing after recovering the body of the last Israeli hostage in Gaza, which was retrieved from Gaza earlier this week.
According to Israel's official data, some 42,000 Gazans left the strip during the war, the vast majority of them patients seeking medical treatment abroad or dual citizens.
Located at the southernmost tip of Gaza, the Rafah crossing is a vital entry point for people and humanitarian aid into and out of the enclave. Since May 2024, when Israel occupied Rafah, the crossing has remained largely closed, even with the latest ceasefire in place. ■
