Israel Agrees to Limited Reopening of Rafah Crossing After Hostage Search

Israel has agreed to reopen the Rafah border crossing in a “limited” manner following the completion of an ongoing operation to locate the body of the last Israeli captive believed to be held in Gaza, amid continued Israeli strikes on various areas of the enclave.

The office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the crossing would be reopened after the conclusion of the search for Ran Giveli, whose remains are believed to be buried in the Gaza Strip. The decision, according to the statement, is based on understandings reached with the United States and falls within the framework of U.S. President Donald Trump’s 20-point plan.

The plan reportedly conditions progress on the return of all living captives and requires Hamas to make what Israel described as a “full and complete effort” to locate and return the bodies of deceased hostages. The statement stressed that the reopening of the Rafah crossing would be limited and subject to strict Israeli monitoring and oversight mechanisms.

Israeli security estimates indicate that the search operation, which began two days ago at a cemetery in Gaza City, could continue for several hours or extend over several days. Israel’s public broadcaster Kan quoted political officials as expressing cautious optimism about the possibility of locating the body during the ongoing operation.

According to security assessments, hundreds of bodies are believed to be buried at the site, with forces opening graves one by one. Officials said the search could be moved to another location if the body is not found at the current site.

Meanwhile, Israeli discussions are reportedly focused on the timing of reopening the Rafah crossing, as U.S. pressure continues to mount to advance the second phase of the ceasefire agreement, even if the search operation concludes without locating Giveli’s remains.

The developments come as Israeli bombardment continues across different parts of Gaza, exacerbating humanitarian conditions and fueling calls for expanded access through border crossings.