Preparations to open Rafah crossing – DW – 10/16/2025

Israel has said that the date for the opening of the Rafah crossing between Gaza and Egypt will be announced later, and confirmed that no aid will pass through the entrance.

In a statement on Thursday, COGAT – the Israeli Defense Ministry agency that oversees civil affairs in the Palestinian territories – said the crossing would open to the movement of people only after Israel and Egypt complete preparations.

It added, “It should be stressed that humanitarian aid will not pass through the Rafah crossing. This was not agreed at any level.” “Aid continues to enter Gaza Strip” through other crossings.

Rafah is a major international crossing into Gaza.

When it was open, international aid often entered from Egypt and was delivered by truck to the Kerem Shalom crossing between Israel and southern Gaza for inspection by Israeli authorities before being collected by aid agencies and sent to Gaza.

Rafah reopened during a short ceasefire in January 2025, but only to allow people wishing to leave Gaza.

The compound on the Gaza side of the crossing was captured by Israeli forces. In May 2024.

The Israeli military said Thursday it had identified the remains of two hostages, Inbar Heyman and Sergeant Major Mohammed al-Atrash, whose bodies were returned by Hamas the previous evening.

“After the identification process was completed by the National Institute of Forensic Medicine, representatives informed the families of Inbar Hayman and Sergeant Major Mohammed al-Atrash that their bodies have been returned for burial,” the army said in a statement.

Hayman, a 27-year-old graffiti artist from Haifa, known by the pseudonym “Pink”, was murdered at a Nova music festival on October 7 and her remains were taken to Gaza. Al-Atrash, a 39-year-old Bedouin soldier, was killed in battle the same day and his body was also taken to the Palestinian territories.

Israel has called on Germany to end a partial freeze on arms exports and lift its travel warning for parts of the country following a ceasefire in Gaza.

Israel’s Deputy Foreign Minister Sharon Haskel said in Berlin that with the war over, Israel expects Germany to lift both sanctions. He expressed confidence in Germany’s role in postwar diplomacy, saying that his government viewed Berlin as a reliable partner and would welcome German participation in a potential peacekeeping force.

Asked about historical sensitivities, Haskell said Israel “trusts” Germany, recalling the public solidarity following the Hamas attacks of October 7, 2023.

On 8 August, Chancellor Friedrich Merz ordered a temporary moratorium on arms deliveries that could be used in Gaza, citing what he called increasingly aggressive Israeli military actions. By then, Berlin had increased its criticism of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government, but reduced sanctions.

After Israel and Hamas agreed to initial steps toward a peace process, Meraz said export restrictions would be reviewed, but stressed that he would first coordinate any changes with his coalition partners.

Leaders of Merz’s conservative bloc have pushed for a rapid lifting of restrictions, while the centre-left Social Democrats, their junior allies, have not yet taken a position.

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz has threatened to resume fighting if Hamas does not comply with the terms of a US-backed ceasefire, his office has said.

Hamas handed over the remains of two more dead hostages on Wednesday, but said it could not recover more bodies from Gaza without special equipment.

Since Monday, Hamas has released 20 surviving hostages in exchange for about 2,000 Palestinian prisoners freed by Israel.

Earlier Wednesday, Hamas had returned the remains of seven of the 28 known dead hostages, as well as one body that Israel later said was not that of a former hostage.

The Defense Minister’s office said, “If Hamas refuses to comply with the agreement, Israel, in coordination with the United States, will resume fighting and take action to completely defeat Hamas.”

Welcome to DW’s coverage of events in Gaza, Israel and the broader Middle East.

As the ceasefire continues, discussions continue on when the crucial Rafah border crossing between Israel and Egypt will open to the movement of people.

We will also monitor Israel’s request for Germany to lift the partial arms embargo and the continued recovery of dead hostages being handed over by Hamas.

Israel has reaffirmed its position that it will resume fighting if Hamas breaks the ceasefire, with delays in returning hostage bodies becoming a major issue.

Follow along as DW brings you the latest reports, background and analysis on developments in the Middle East.