Israel will reopen the Rafah border crossing on Sunday for people to travel between Gaza and Egypt, a government agency said, the first opening of effectively the only route into or out of the Palestinian territory since May 2024.

COGAT, the Israeli government agency that coordinates civilian policy in Gaza, has not said how many of Gaza’s roughly two million residents will be able to cross the border each day.

“The return of residents from Egypt to the Gaza Strip will be allowed, in cooperation with Egypt, only for residents who left Gaza during the war and only after prior security clearance by Israel,” COGAT said.

Israel captured the border crossing in May 2024, about nine months into the Gaza war. The reopening was an important condition under the first phase of US President Donald Trump’s plan to end fighting between Israel and Hamas militants, which followed a ceasefire agreed in October.

Israel has said it will reopen it only after the body of the last Israeli hostage in Gaza is recovered, which happened this week.

Reuters previously reported that Israel wants to limit the number of Palestinians entering Gaza through the border crossing with Egypt to ensure that more can leave than enter. Egypt did not agree to that.

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Despite the ceasefire, Israeli airstrikes continue to hit Gaza. More than 10 people, including three journalists, were killed in separate attacks last week, according to Palestinian health officials.

A source familiar with the matter said the crossing would open despite ongoing discussions between Egypt and Israel on the issue, saying Israel wanted to allow the return of around 150 people a day.

The opening will only allow people to pass through, although Gaza still needs vital aid, which aid groups say is stalled by Israeli restrictions.

“Many people in Gaza are still living in ruins without basic services, struggling to stay warm in the harsh winter conditions,” International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) president Mirjana Špoljarić said on Friday.

She called for an easing of restrictions on “dual-use” items such as water pipes and generators, “which are critical to rebuilding the basic infrastructure that people rely on.”

Under a policy dating back to long before the October 7 Hamas attack on Israel and the ensuing Gaza war, Israel inspects trucks traveling to the Palestinian enclave to stop any items it deems to have potential dual use – civilian or military.

Gaza has been devastated by Israel’s two-year offensive, which has left most of the strip in ruins and displaced almost the entire population.

Israel launched its air and ground war in Gaza after a cross-border attack led by Hamas on October 7, 2023, killed around 1,200 people, according to Israeli figures.

The Israeli offensive has since killed more than 71,400 Palestinians, with more than 490 Palestinians killed by Israeli fire since October 10, 2025, according to the Gaza Ministry of Health.