Israel has announced plans to reopen the Rafah border crossing to allow Palestinians in Gaza to leave the enclave, claiming coordination with Egypt and oversight by the European Union. The Israeli military office COGAT said the move reflects support for the ongoing seven-week ceasefire with Hamas and would follow procedures used during the January truce. However, Egypt has firmly denied any such coordination, calling Israel’s statement unilateral and baseless. Cairo stated that any reopening must be mutual and based on U.S. President Donald Trump’s Gaza peace plan. The Rafah crossing, a key humanitarian route, has remained largely closed since May 2024 when Israel took control of the area. According to the World Health Organization, around 16,500 critically ill or injured Palestinians are waiting to leave Gaza for treatment, though only 235 have been able to do so since the ceasefire began. If reopened, the crossing would reportedly be managed by Palestinian Authority officials alongside the EU Border Assistance Mission.