Egypt Denies Coordinating with Israel to Reopen Rafah Crossing, Despite Israeli Announcement

Egypt denied today, Wednesday, through its State Information Service (SIS), that there is any coordination with Israel to reopen the Rafah Crossing for residents of the Gaza Strip in the coming days.

This denial comes in response to an earlier announcement by the Israeli Coordinator of Government Activities (COGAT), who stated that the Rafah Crossing would be opened in the coming days for the purpose of "departure only" from the Gaza Strip to Egypt.

The Israeli official added that this arrangement, which has received Israeli security approval, would be coordinated with Egypt under the supervision of the European Union mission, similar to the mechanism implemented in January 2025.

The Rafah Crossing is a vital lifeline for the Strip, and the United Nations and aid organizations have repeatedly called for its urgent reopening amidst the severe humanitarian crisis facing Gaza following the two-year war.