Gaza/Tel Aviv, 30 January 2026 (dpa/MIA) - Israel is set to reopen the Rafah crossing between the Gaza Strip and Egypt on Sunday "for limited movement of people," the authorities and the military said on Friday.

The major border crossing near the southern city of Rafah has been closed for nearly a year as Israel continues to restrict access to the war-torn coastal strip despite a ceasefire in place since October.

The United States has been pushing for the reopening, as foreseen under the Gaza peace plan it brokered.

"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," the COGAT authority, which is in charge of implementing Israeli policy in the Palestinian Territories, said.

Only the roughly 42,000 Palestinians who left the strip during the war between Israel and the Palestinian militant organization Hamas will be allowed to enter Gaza via the crossing, the agency said.

"In addition to initial identification and screening at the Rafah Crossing by the European Union mission, an additional screening and identification process will be conducted at a designated corridor" by the Israeli military, it said.

It was initially unclear how many people might be allowed to enter or leave Gaza on a daily basis.

The Israeli military maintains control over the Gaza side of the crossing. Humanitarian aid for the largely destroyed Palestinian territory is delivered via the border crossings with Israel.

Photo: EPA