Israel says Rafah crossing to open soon to let Gazans leave via Egypt

Egypt denies it is co-ordinating with Israel to reopen the crossing, insisting that passage should be in both directions.

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Israeli military body Cogat said exits would be "facilitated through co-ordination with Egypt, following security approval by Israel and under the supervision of the European Union mission". It added that this would be "similar to the mechanism that operated in January", when the crossing opened during a previous ceasefire.

An Israeli security official said it was an expression of Israel's support for the current ceasefire with Hamas, which began seven weeks ago.

However, Egypt denied it was co-ordinating with Israel to reopen the Rafah crossing.

The State Information Service cited an official Egyptian source as saying that "if an agreement is reached to open the crossing, it will be in both directions, to enter and exit the Gaza Strip, in accordance with the plan of US President Donald Trump".