The Israeli army radio said the crossing would open on Thursday, while the Jerusalem Post reported it would open on Thursday or Sunday, while Walla and Channel 12 suggested it would open on Sunday.
According to the Israeli army radio, "the security establishment has completed preparations for the opening of the Rafah crossing, and it is expected to open in the coming days, perhaps tomorrow." It added that "for the first time in almost two years, the crossing will be open for the movement of individuals to the Gaza Strip," i.e., in both directions.
She explained that “anyone wishing to enter or leave Gaza will be required to obtain an Egyptian permit, and Cairo will send the names to the General Security Service (Shin Bet) for security approval.” She continued: “Those leaving Gaza will not be subject to Israeli security inspection, but will only be subject to inspection by members of the European Union mission and citizens of Gaza working on behalf of the Palestinian Authority.”
The Israeli army radio added: "Israel will remotely supervise the operation, through the presence of a security officer at a checkpoint monitoring the path of those departing to Egypt," and added that this officer "will be able to verify, through facial recognition technology, that those departing are indeed those who have obtained permission to do so."
She continued: “Using a remote control button, he will be able to open and close the gate, and therefore, in the event of an attempt to smuggle unauthorized people, it will be possible to prevent their exit,” noting that “entry into Gaza will be more stringent, as it will be subject to an Israeli inspection mechanism, since every person entering through the crossing will later arrive at an Israeli army checkpoint.”
The Israeli army radio explained that at this point, "he will undergo thorough inspections, using metal detectors and facial recognition devices, and he will not be allowed to cross beyond the yellow line, i.e., the Hamas-controlled territory, until he has passed this point."
The Jerusalem Post reported that "despite earlier expectations that the crossing would open on Wednesday, an Israeli official and a Western diplomat stated that Thursday is the earliest likely date for its opening," adding: "The two officials added: There is a possibility that the crossing will not open before the beginning of next week."
She explained that "the crossing will be managed by Palestinian individuals who are not affiliated with the Palestinian Authority and do not wear its official uniform, along with observers from the European Union within the border monitoring mission," and added: "Once it is operational, entry and exit from the Rafah crossing will be restricted to civilians. On the exit side from Gaza (the Palestinian side), the Shin Bet will implement inspection procedures to verify the identities of those leaving."
"On the entry side (to Gaza), Israel will set up an additional checkpoint a few meters from the crossing to conduct security checks, with the aim of preventing arms smuggling," the newspaper reported.
The Israeli news website Walla quoted an unnamed senior official in the occupation army on Wednesday as saying that the Rafah crossing will officially open for pedestrians in both directions as early as next Sunday.
In this context, the Ministry of Health in the Gaza Strip announced on Wednesday that the number of Palestinian victims of the Israeli genocide since October 7, 2023, has risen to 71,667 martyrs and 171,343 wounded.
The ministry said in a statistical statement that hospitals in the sector received “5 martyrs (including 4 new ones and one whose body was recovered), and 6 injuries” during the past 24 hours, without specifying the circumstances.
Since the ceasefire agreement came into effect on October 10, 2025, Israel has continued to commit hundreds of violations by bombing and firing, resulting in the death and injury of hundreds of Palestinian civilians.
She pointed out that "a number of victims are still under the rubble and in the streets, as ambulance and civil defense crews have been unable to reach them until this moment."
According to the ministry, the death toll from Israeli violations of the ceasefire agreement since October 10 has risen to "492 martyrs and 1,356 wounded".
These violations come despite the US administration announcing, in mid-January, the start of the second phase of the ceasefire agreement.
In addition to the victims, most of whom are children and women, Israel destroyed 90% of the civilian infrastructure in Gaza.
The ceasefire agreement ended a genocidal war that Israel began on October 8, 2023, and which lasted two years, leaving behind massive destruction affecting 90 percent of the civilian infrastructure, with reconstruction costs estimated by the United Nations at about $70 billion.
