Rafah Crossing to Reopen Next Week as Lifeline for Gaza

In a significant development for the besieged Gaza Strip, the Rafah border crossing is set to reopen next week for two-way transit.

The announcement was made on Friday (January 23, 2026) by Ali Shath, a senior Palestinian technocrat official, during a virtual address at a World Economic Forum event hosted by US President Donald Trump in Davos, Switzerland.

Describing the move as a "symbol of new possibilities," Shath emphasized that reopening the crossing is crucial for delivering humanitarian aid and allowing medical evacuations. Since 2024, the crossing has been under Israeli military control, and despite a ceasefire effective since October last year, its full reopening had been delayed. While the decision marks a major step toward normalcy for Gaza’s residents, Israel has yet to issue an official statement regarding the logistics of the reopening.