The Israeli government's Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT) unit stated that "the decision was made following a security assessment and a study of the conditions that would allow for the resumption of work at the crossing, while maintaining the necessary security restrictions in light of the security situation and threats in the region."
The unit noted in a statement that the crossing will be operated according to the mechanism that was in place before its closure, and in accordance with the relevant security instructions.
He explained that the movement of residents in and out through the Rafah crossing will take place in coordination with Egypt, after obtaining prior Israeli security approval and under the supervision of the European Union mission.
The unit indicated that additional identity checks and verification procedures will be carried out through the "Regavim" crossing, which is managed by security authorities in the area under the control of the Israeli occupation army, as part of the approved security arrangements.
On Tuesday, Hamas stressed that Israel’s continued closure of the Rafah land crossing between the Gaza Strip and Egypt since February 28 represents a “serious violation” of the ceasefire agreement, according to a statement by the movement’s spokesman, Hazem Qassem.
On February 2, Israel reopened the Palestinian side of the crossing, which it has occupied since May 2024, in a very limited manner and with very strict restrictions.
But on February 28, it announced the closure of all crossings in the Palestinian territories until further notice, following developments on the ground and the continuation of the American-Israeli attack on Iran.
On March 3, the Israeli occupation army announced the gradual opening of the "Karm Abu Salem" commercial crossing, under restrictions and security measures, claiming that "the entry of aid into the sector will take place according to the needs received from the field through the United Nations and international organizations."
Palestinian estimates in Gaza indicate that 22,000 wounded and sick people need to leave the sector to receive treatment, given the catastrophic state of the health sector as a result of the genocide.
Before the Israeli war of extermination, hundreds of Palestinians used to leave Gaza daily through the crossing to Egypt, and hundreds of others would return to the Strip in a normal movement. The mechanism of work at the crossing was subject to the Ministry of Interior in Gaza and the Egyptian side, without Israeli interference.
Israel was supposed to reopen the crossing in the first phase of the ceasefire agreement, which came into effect on October 10, 2025, but it reneged on that.
With American support, on October 8, 2023, Israel launched a two-year genocide in Gaza, leaving more than 72,000 martyrs and about 172,000 wounded Palestinians, and widespread destruction affecting 90 percent of the civilian infrastructure.
