Israel to Reopen Rafah Crossing for Limited Passage

Israel's Ministry of Defense announced on March 15 that the Rafah crossing in the Gaza Strip will reopen on March 18, allowing limited two-way passage for individuals. According to Jin10, the crossing's operational rules will follow the pre-closure mechanism, requiring coordination with Egypt and prior approval from Israeli authorities. The European Union delegation will oversee the crossing's operations. Additionally, Israel will implement further screening and identification procedures for individuals passing through the crossing. Located at the southern border of the Gaza Strip with Egypt, the Rafah crossing is crucial for humanitarian aid to the region. Since May 2024, when Israeli forces took control of the Palestinian side, the crossing has largely remained closed. It officially reopened on February 2 this year for limited passage. Israel closed the Rafah crossing on February 28, citing security concerns, coinciding with the first day of a large-scale military operation against Iran conducted jointly with the United States.