GAZA – Palestinian factions on Saturday rejected any Israeli involvement in the movement of passengers to and from Gaza through the Rafah crossing on the border between the strip and Egypt, stressing that it is a joint Palestinian-Egyptian facility.
In a press statement issued after a meeting in Gaza City, the Follow-up Committee of National and Islamic Forces said that any measures that grant Israel a role in controlling passenger movement violate international law and fall within the framework of crimes of siege and restrictions on freedom of movement guaranteed by international humanitarian conventions.
The committee urged mediators to “maintain the safety of the crossing and travelers, ensure the protection of Palestinians’ right to free movement and put an end to the suffering of Gaza residents stranded abroad without restrictions or conditions.”
The statement was released on the eve of an anticipated reopening of the Rafah crossing on Sunday.
Israel’s Office of the Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories said Friday in a statement that Israel will reopen the crossing for pedestrian traffic in both directions on Sunday.
According to the statement, exit from and entry into Gaza via the crossing “will be permitted in coordination with Egypt, following prior security clearance of individuals by Israel, and under the supervision of the European Union mission.”
The crossing has been a lifeline for Gaza’s 2.3 million residents, serving as the primary route for humanitarian aid, medical evacuations, and civilian travel. Since Israeli forces took control of the Palestinian side of the crossing in May 2024, it has remained largely closed, deepening an already severe humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
Also on Saturday, Egypt and Jordan condemned in separate statements Israel’s violations of the ceasefire agreement in Gaza, as Israel launched fresh deadly airstrikes across the enclave late Friday and midday Saturday.
In a statement, the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said these violations inflame the situation and undermine efforts aimed at consolidating the ceasefire and restoring stability, at a time when regional and international parties are working on the second phase of the Gaza peace plan.
Egypt appealed to all parties to fully commit to their responsibilities during this delicate stage and to exercise maximum restraint, thereby contributing to maintaining the ceasefire, the statement said.
The Jordanian Foreign Ministry condemned in a statement Israel’s “repeated violations” of the Gaza ceasefire agreement, including the latest attacks.
At least 32 Palestinians were killed in a series of Israeli airstrikes across Gaza late Friday and midday Saturday, Palestinian sources said, with those attacks targeting a police station, residential apartments and displacement tents. Israel said the strikes were responding to a Hamas breach of the ceasefire.
Meanwhile, Hamas said in a statement that its leadership held intensive contacts with mediators and other international parties, expressing its “rejection and condemnation of Israel’s conduct and the continuation of its aggression against the Gaza Strip under false pretexts and baseless allegations.”
Since the latest ceasefire took effect in October 2025, at least 509 Palestinians have been killed and 1,405 wounded by Israeli fire, bringing the total death toll since October 2023 to 71,769, with 171,483 others wounded, Gaza-based health authorities said Saturday.