Egypt’s State Information Service firmly rejected Israeli reports on Wednesday that Cairo is coordinating with Jerusalem to reopen the Rafah crossing in the coming days exclusively for Palestinians to exit Gaza.
The denial came hours after Israel’s Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT) – a unit under the Defence Ministry handling non-military operations in Palestinian areas – announced the planned opening.
📍UPDATE:
— COGAT (@cogatonline) December 3, 2025
In accordance with the ceasefire agreement and a directive of the political echelon, the Rafah Crossing will open in the coming days exclusively for the exit of residents from the Gaza Strip to Egypt.
The residents' exit through the Rafah Crossing will be facilitated…
COGAT stated: “In accordance with the ceasefire agreement and a directive of the political echelon, the Rafah Crossing will open in the coming days exclusively for the exit of residents from the Gaza Strip to Egypt.”
The Israeli body added that the arrangement would follow security approval by Israel and operate under the supervision of the European Union mission, similar to the mechanism in place during January 2025’s previous two-month truce.
That earlier opening allowed some Gaza residents with permits – mainly for medical treatment – to leave, alongside humanitarian aid trucks entering the territory.
However, Egypt’s official source insisted no such discussions or coordination have taken place. They emphasised that any agreement to open Rafah must allow movement in both directions – for entry and exit from Gaza – in line with the US President Donald Trump’s peace plan.
Beyond Trump’s proposal, the Rafah reopening remains a longstanding demand from the United Nations and humanitarian organisations.
Israel’s army has controlled the Palestinian side of the crossing since May 2024, claiming it served “terrorist purposes” such as weapons smuggling.
Rafah lies at the southern tip of the Palestinian enclave, bordering Egypt’s Sinai desert. Access from the Egyptian side is crucial for international humanitarian missions and trucks carrying aid, food and especially fuel – essential for daily life in an area without reliable electricity.
Before the October 2023 Israeli onslaught on Gaza, Rafah was the strip’s primary outlet for Palestinians with permits, as the territory has endured a comprehensive blockade since 2007.
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