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.
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.
EastEnders star Samantha Womack has opened up about her decision to move from the UK to Spain. The actress and her partner, Oliver Farnworth, 43, decided to pack up their lives following Samantha’s breast cancer ordeal.
After sensing that “something wasn’t right” in 2022, the Ronnie Mitchell star sought a breast examination. A private ultrasound revealed an irregular shape, which was later diagnosed as invasive ductal carcinoma that had spread to her lymph nodes.
Subsequently, Samantha underwent surgery to remove five lymph nodes, followed by multiple rounds of chemotherapy and radiotherapy. The 53-year-old was fortunate that her cancer was detected early, and five months later she was told she was cancer-free.
Following this period in 2023, Samantha and her partner settled into their new home in the mountains of Valencia.
Speaking to The Metro newspaper, the actress explained that her family’s love for travel played a major role in the move. She said: “I’ve got a real wanderlust, which started from my grandmother.
“She was a choreographer on cruise ships and took me everywhere with her when I was young.
“I was going to places like the Panama Canal, Haiti or Barbados. Back in the 1970s, that was the big thing.
“I think that instigated a feeling in me that I liked visiting other places and seeing other ways of life,” she added.
“Staying in once place, often you stop growing. I’ve always looked at property abroad but never had the confidence to make a move.
“But as you get older, you think, why not?”
While she refers to Spain as her “happy place”, Samantha continues to make regular trips back to the UK for work commitments.
Since leaving EastEnders in 2017, she has taken on a number of theatre roles, including her current part in the stage show Dear England.
While she’s been out of the BBC soap for nine years, fans have frequently called for her and on-screen sister Rita Simons to return.
However, with both characters being killed off in dramatic scenes on Ronnie’s wedding day, Samantha struggles to see a realistic route back.
Speaking to us, she said: “We’ve had so many people ask me [about a return]. The only way we could return is if it wasn’t actually a real death.
“I mean, it’s soap, anything is possible but I don’t think it could be a Dallas dream, I don’t think soap does dreams the way Dallas did.”
Should she ever be offered the opportunity, Samantha also insists she wouldn’t return without Rita by her side.
“I would never go back without her, we’re joined at the hip really like the characters, they were one character, they were the same, the Mitchell sisters were like one organism,” she added.
Luke Wright will step down as national selector in the latest change to the England backroom following the dismal Ashes campaign.
Former Sussex and England all-rounder Wright will leave at the end of the T20 World Cup, after just over three years in the role.
The 40-year-old’s departure is his own decision, rather than being asked to leave in the aftermath of England’s 4-1 defeat in Australia.
“The role demands significant travel and time away from home and with a young family, the time feels right to pass the baton on to the next person,” said Wright.
“I now look forward with real interest and enthusiasm to whatever cricketing roles the future may hold.”
Nevertheless, Wright’s exit is another alteration to the England staff as they look to rebuild after the Ashes.
“I have absolutely loved working with Luke,” said England director of cricket Rob Key. “His contribution to English cricket has been exceptional and I trust his judgement as much as anyone. He has added so much more to this role than just being a selector.
“I’m very sad to see him go and I wish him and his family all the best for the future. I have no doubt that at some stage down the road he will enhance English cricket once again.”
Key and head coach Brendon McCullum have been given the opportunity to stay in their roles if they can bring changes that will improve results and team culture.
After dropped catches blighted the tour of Australia, England have brought in fielding coach Carl Hopkinson on a short-term basis for the three T20s in Sri Lanka and the World Cup that follows.
Troy Cooley, the Australian who was famously part of the England coaching team for the 2005 Ashes, has returned as national pace-bowling lead – though his arrival was planned for some time.
Now England will look for a replacement for Wright in time for the home summer, which begins with a three-Test series against New Zealand in June.
Wright, who played 101 white-ball internationals for England, was hired at the end of 2022 and formed the selection panel with Key and McCullum, along with input from captains Ben Stokes and Brook.
The new appointment could influence a shift in focus in selection, with England recently choosing to disregard performances in county cricket as a main metric.
Shoaib Bashir was identified as the number one spinner despite not being first choice for his county Somerset. Bashir was then not chosen for any of the Ashes Tests as England instead preferred Will Jacks, who had played only five first-class matches in the previous two years.
Jamie Smith is not the first-choice wicketkeeper for Surrey, yet was given the gloves for England in the Test side ahead of, among others, Surrey keeper Ben Foakes.
While Key looks set to stay on as director of cricket, McCullum’s future is less certain and the identity of the head coach will have a huge influence on selection for that New Zealand Test series.
Josh Paul, former US Bureau of Political-Military Affairs director of congressional affairs, is in the spotlight. Paul resigned in 2023 to protest US involvement in Israel’s occupation of Gaza. Since then, he has co-founded A New Policy, a political movement that advocates for changes in US policy toward Israel and Palestine. Paul discusses his resignation, whether Washington has learned anything, and whether the United States is unprepared to repeat its mistakes.
Published On 22 Jan 2026