Egypt okays electronic alternative to Israel presence on Rafah border, as anxiety looms over reopening

Egypt has reportedly agreed to allow Israel to monitor the Rafah crossing by using an electronic mechanism as an alternative to the military’s physical presence there, as anxiety looms over the possibility of it reopening soon, a source in Cairo revealed to Al-Araby Al-Jadeed, The New Arab’s Arabic-language site.

This agreement, which would enable Israel to monitor the Rafah crossing "remotely", rather than have a military based in and around the crossing, was reportedly reached during an Israeli delegation visit to Egypt on 24 December.

The European Union, through its European Union Border Assistance Mission to Rafah, would also continue to verify and examine travel documents in accordance with the 2005 agreement, the source added, amid this agreement.

Egypt, which borders the crossing, is also reportedly angry with Israel over the lack of progress on Rafah’s opening, a key component of US President Donald Trump's Gaza peace plan, and has voiced discontent over the matter in recent weeks.

The crossing was set to open sometime in December, following an Israeli military announcement.

However, this was scrapped by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who insisted that the remaining captive bodies are returned before such a move. One remaining captive has yet to be retrieved amid difficulties due to rubble, inadequate technology, and bad weather.

Egypt, according to the source, has warned Israel of making changes to any procedures concerning the crossing without prior consultation, and against using its reopening to displace Palestinians.

The source stressed that Cairo has linked any stable reopening of Rafah to a guarantee of its balanced operation in both directions, allowing Palestinians to travel both ways, as well as the return of those stuck in Egypt without any restrictions.

The source also said that Egypt is firm in its stance against moves that would lead to the permanent displacement of Palestinians should they cross through Rafah, or transforming the border into a means of altering the demographics of the enclave.

The Rafah border crossing has been a contentious issue between Israel, Egypt, and Gaza over the course of the war, and Israel’s years-long blockade of the enclave.

In May 2024, Israel took control of the crossing amid its military onslaught in Gaza, before withdrawing as part of the January 2025 ceasefire. The Israeli military then regained control months later in a surprise attack that broke the truce.

Is the crossing reopening soon?

Anxiety is looming among Palestinians over the possibility that the Rafah crossing is set to reopen soon, which would allow those who left Gaza via the crossing to return.

Israel newspaper Haaretz said on Sunday that the Israeli military was "preparing" for the "imminent" reopening of the border, while European Union officials were readying for deployment in Israel to monitor travel operations in the area.

Reports alluded that the crossing’s reopening is expected sometime this month, though a specific date was not provided.

Under this plan, Palestinians exiting will be subjected to Israel screenings, using a computerised method. However, those seeking to enter will be screened physically by the military, Haaretz said.

Sky News Arabia, citing a Palestinian source, also said that the crossing was set to open in January, where the Palestinian Authority will take on an administrative role of the crossing, with Israeli and European forces "monitoring from afar".

As per Trump’s Gaza peace plan, the Rafah crossing had been ordered to reopen in both directions to allow Palestinians to leave and return. During Israel’s war, Tel Aviv barred Palestinians leaving the enclave via Rafah from coming back, even if they possessed Israeli authorisation and rightful documents.

Trump’s plan stipulates that the crossing operates under the same mechanism it did during the January 2025 ceasefire, the last time it was opened. Under that arrangement, the Palestinian side of the crossing would be operated by Palestinian Authority personnel with assistance from a European Union force.

Israeli outlet Israel Hayom said on Monday that despite the crossing’s reopening being a key component of the ceasefire agreement, Trump did not raise the issue with Netanyahu during his visit to Florida in December.