Israel wants to restrict the number of Palestinians entering Gaza through the Rafah border crossing with Egypt to ensure that more people are allowed out than in, according to three sources briefed on the matter. The plan is being discussed ahead of the expected reopening of the crossing next week, a move that would mark the first major change in access to Gaza in months.
Ali Shaath, head of a US backed transitional Palestinian committee set up to temporarily administer Gaza, announced on Thursday that the Rafah Border Crossing would reopen next week. Rafah is effectively the sole route in or out of Gaza for nearly all of the enclave’s more than two million residents. The crossing had been expected to open during the initial phase of President Donald Trump’s plan to end the war, under a ceasefire reached in October between Israel and Hamas. Earlier this month, Washington said the plan had moved into a second phase, under which Israel is expected to further withdraw troops from Gaza and Hamas is due to relinquish control of the territory’s administration. The Gaza side of the crossing has been under Israeli military control since 2024.
The three sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the issue, said it remains unclear how Israel would enforce limits on the number of Palestinians entering Gaza from Egypt, or what ratio of exits to entries it intends to impose. Israeli officials have previously spoken about encouraging Palestinians to emigrate from Gaza, though they deny any intention to forcibly transfer the population. Palestinians are highly sensitive to suggestions that Gazans could be expelled or that those who leave temporarily might be prevented from returning.
Under current plans, the Rafah crossing is expected to be staffed by Palestinians affiliated with the Ramallah-based Palestinian Authority and monitored by European Union personnel, similar to arrangements during a weeks long ceasefire between Israel and Hamas early last year. However, the sources said Israel also wants to establish a military checkpoint inside Gaza near the border, requiring all Palestinians entering or leaving to pass through Israeli security screening. Two additional sources confirmed that Israeli officials have insisted on setting up such a checkpoint.
The Israeli prime minister’s office did not immediately respond to requests for comment, while the military referred questions to the government and declined to comment. The US Embassy in Israel also did not respond to questions about whether Washington supports limiting the number of Palestinians entering Gaza or the establishment of an Israeli run checkpoint.
During the initial phase of Trump’s plan, the Israeli military partially pulled back its forces within Gaza but retained control of about 53% of the territory, including the entire land border with Egypt. Nearly all of Gaza’s population remains concentrated in the rest of the enclave, largely under Hamas control and living in makeshift tents or damaged buildings. The sources said it is still unclear how individuals would be handled if they are blocked from passing through the proposed Israeli checkpoint, particularly those attempting to enter Gaza from Egypt.
Israel has repeatedly objected to reopening the border, with some officials arguing that Hamas must first return the body of an Israeli police officer held in Gaza, the final human remains of a hostage due to be transferred under the ceasefire’s first phase. US officials privately say that Washington, rather than Israel, is driving the rollout of the president’s plan to bring the war to an end.
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