Jerusalem
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Israel on Monday morning approved the partial reopening of the Rafah border between Gaza and Egypt after nearly two years of closure, allowing a small number of Palestinians to leave the war-torn enclave and allowing even fewer to return, Israeli security officials said.
The European Union is operating the crossing as the final step in the first phase of a U.S.-brokered ceasefire agreement in the enclave that took effect in mid-October.
The crucial border has been largely closed since Israel occupied it in May 2024, but Sunday marked a series of preparations by the European Union, Egypt and other parties involved in operating the border crossing.
Egypt’s state news agency Al-Qahera News reported on Monday, citing unnamed sources, that only 50 people will be allowed to cross and return each day for the first few days of the operation.
CNN previously reported that a total of 150 Palestinians will be allowed to leave Gaza through the crossing each day, but only 50 will be allowed to enter.
Few Palestinians can realistically hope to escape due to the high costs of border crossings and the lengthy bureaucratic and security procedures. Some Palestinians report paying thousands of dollars when it opens, but few can afford this.
This is a developing story and will be updated.
