Israel to Reopen Gaza’s Rafah Crossing on Wednesday: Israeli Public Broadcaster

Israel is set to reopen the Rafah crossing on Wednesday, allowing humanitarian aid to enter the Gaza Strip from Egypt, according to Israeli public broadcaster KAN.

“Six hundred trucks of humanitarian aid will be dispatched (Wednesday) to the Gaza Strip by the UN, approved international organisations, the private sector, and donor countries,” KAN reported on its website, without citing specific sources.

The reopening comes amid a devastating humanitarian crisis in Gaza, following two years of conflict triggered by Hamas’s attack on October 7, 2023.

The United Nations and other aid organisations have repeatedly called for the major crossing to be reopened, citing critical shortages of food, medical supplies, and fuel.

• At the end of August, the UN declared famine in Gaza, though Israel rejected this claim.
• Gaza remains heavily dependent on aid for the survival of its civilian population.

KAN reported that the decision to reopen Rafah followed Hamas handing over the remains of four more hostages late on Tuesday, under a ceasefire agreement brokered by U.S. President Donald Trump that came into effect Friday.

• The agreement stipulated that all hostages, living and deceased, be handed over within 72 hours of the truce.
• Hamas released all 20 living hostages on time, but as of Tuesday evening, only eight of the 28 deceased hostages had been returned to Israel.

Israel’s far-right National Security Minister, Itamar Ben Gvir, warned on Tuesday that aid supplies to Gaza could be halted if Hamas failed to return the remains of soldiers still held in the territory.

KAN also reported that the reopening decision was influenced by Israel being informed of Hamas’s intention to return four additional bodies on Wednesday, although this claim has not yet been confirmed by Hamas.

The Rafah crossing, located at Gaza’s southern border with Egypt, serves as a critical humanitarian lifeline for the territory. Its reopening will enable the rapid delivery of food, medicine, and other essential supplies, coordinated by:

• United Nations agencies
• Approved international NGOs
• Private sector partners
• Donor countries

The move reflects the delicate balancing act between ensuring humanitarian relief and pressuring Hamas to comply with the hostages’ return agreement.

The reopening of Rafah marks a tentative step towards easing civilian suffering, though the broader situation in Gaza remains precarious, with the full return of deceased hostages still pending and humanitarian needs continuing to outpace supply.