Israel has agreed to a limited reopening of Gaza’s Rafah Crossing for pedestrian traffic only, under a full Israeli monitoring mechanism, once a current IDF operation concludes, the Prime Minister’s Office said in a formal statement on Sunday night.
The move, aligned with President Donald Trump’s “20-point plan,” is contingent on Hamas returning all hostages, living and deceased, and on what the PMO described as a “100% effort” by Hamas to locate and return the remains of all fallen captives.
According to the PMO, the timeline hinges on the IDF’s search for the last hostage’s remains, St.-Sgt.-Maj. Ran Gvili.
The IDF said it is carrying out a focused operation based on recent intelligence to locate and recover Gvili’s remains in the Shuja’iyya area of northern Gaza near the Yellow Line.
Once the operation is completed, and in line with understandings with the United States, Israel expects to open the crossing to people only, with Israeli inspection in place, the PMO said.
The PMO added, “The State of Israel is committed to bringing home Israel’s hero, St.-Sgt.-Maj. Ran Gvili, and will spare no effort to lay him to rest in Israel.”
Several senior ministers opposed the move during the cabinet discussion, arguing it conflicts with wartime objectives, foremost the destruction of Hamas, and could shape future sovereignty arrangements in Gaza.
National Missions Minister Orit Strock said, “We are handing Gaza to the Palestinian Authority with the blood of our children… then what will we tell our soldiers?”
Transportation Minister Miri Regev said Israel must ensure that “the rule in Gaza is neither Hamas nor the PA.” Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich warned that reopening Rafah without full Israeli control would mean “we will get a Palestinian state.”
Ben-Gvir: Opening Rafah now would be a 'big mistake'
National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir criticized the timing, saying: “We have killed tens of thousands of terrorists, but we have not completely destroyed Hamas… If the Rafah Crossing opens, it will be a big mistake and a very bad message.”
Political sources said the debate reflects a wider view in the cabinet that opening Rafah is not merely a technical or humanitarian step, but a far-reaching strategic move with implications for postwar governance in Gaza.
Officials stressed that Israel is in continual dialogue with Washington while setting red lines on security control, dismantling Hamas, and avoiding steps that could be read as laying the groundwork for a de facto Palestinian state.
Yoaz Hendel, leader of the Reservists’ Party, accused the government of capitulating by directing the IDF to open the crossing before Hamas is dismantled and disarmed, charging that the move enables Gaza’s reconstruction without meeting Israel’s core demands.
The IDF launched the recovery effort over the weekend at a cemetery in Shuja’iyya, and the Southern Command has cordoned off several sections, opening dozens of graves for forensic identification, including dental analysis.
Military assessments indicate Palestinian Islamic Jihad may have buried Gvili as a local Gazan, unaware he was an Israeli soldier. The IDF estimates the process could take days and has urged the public to refrain from spreading unverified rumors that could harm the family and the recovery effort.