Gaza’s Rafah crossing with Egypt to open next week: Palestinian official

The enclave, which was almost completely closed during Israel’s genocidal war, will reopen next week, according to the Palestinian technocrat leader supported by Washington.

During a meeting held by US President Donald Trump at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Ali Shaath made the announcement via videolink on Thursday.

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The Rafah crossing will open in both directions the following week, “I’m pleased to announce.” Rafah is more than a gate for Palestinians in Gaza. It serves as a source of hope and a lifeline, Shaath said.

He continued, “The opening of Rafah indicates that Gaza is no longer confined to the war and the future.”

Israel, which has ruled the Rafah crossing since 2024, did not respond right away. Israeli authorities have stalled reopening the ceasefire since it became effective under Trump’s plan, which would have allowed desperately needed medical personnel to enter and leave.

Beyond the yellow line, which includes the region that abuts the border crossing, is now in the hands of Israel thanks to the ceasefire agreement.

The Rafah crossing’s reopening, if implemented, would change Israeli policy that stated it would only be accessible to people leaving the Gaza Strip to Egypt.

“Path to true Palestinian self-determination”

The all-Palestinian technocratic committee that will oversee the power transition in Gaza was announced by the White House on Friday. The National Committee for the Administration of Gaza (NCAG), which was established in the name of Shaath, a former deputy minister of the Palestinian Authority (PA), was appointed as the organization’s general commissioner.

In a statement following his appointment, Shaath stated that the committee would “embrace peace, which we strive to secure the path to true Palestinian rights and self-determination.”

Senior Hamas leaders have praised the committee’s formation as a “step in the right direction” that is “crucial for consolidating the ceasefire.”

Some Palestinians, however, worry that the NCAG’s technocratic approach will put a stop to Israel’s decades-long occupation of Palestinian territory and favor a focus on economic growth and potential for foreign investment.

The technocratic committee would be run by a so-called “Board of Peace,” who would be Trump’s presider, as part of the second phase of the ceasefire agreement.

The US leader on Thursday formally inaugurated the organization for resolving international disputes in Davos, which has a $1 billion membership fee.

Although the original intention of the board was to oversee the reconstruction of Gaza, a draft charter does not appear to limit its authority to the Palestinian-occupied territory.