Israel Coordinates With Egypt On Opening Rafah Crossing

Israel's military aid agency, COGAT, said on Thursday preparations were underway with Egypt to open Rafah's main border crossing with Gaza for human movement, with a date to be announced later.

Israel had previously warned that it could close Rafah and reduce aid to the Palestinian enclave because Hamas, he said, was too slow to return the hostages' bodies.

This underscores the risk to a ceasefire that ended a devastating two-year war and left all the surviving hostages held by Hamas released.

COGAT, Israel's military agency overseeing the flow of aid to the Gaza Strip, said humanitarian aid continued to enter the region through the Crossing of the Shalom Brakes with Israel, and at other crossings.

"It should be emphasized that humanitarian aid will not pass Rafah crossings. This has never been agreed upon at any stage," COGAT said in a statement sent to Reuters.

Two sources told Reuters on Wednesday the Rafah crossing was expected to open to the public on Thursday.