Egypt on Wednesday rejected Israeli claims of an agreement to reopen the Rafah crossing in one direction, allowing Palestinians to leave Gaza. Diaa Rashwan, head of the State Information Service, stressed Egypt's clear stance since the crisis began, opposing any forced or voluntary displacement of Palestinians. The remarks responded to an Israeli announcement of plans to reopen the crossing soon.
The State Information Service (SIS) announced that Egypt had not engaged in any coordination or discussions with Israel regarding the reopening of the Rafah crossing. Diaa Rashwan, head of SIS, stated that Egypt's position has been "clear since the beginning of the crisis," recalling President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi's emphasis on two red lines: rejecting any form of forced or voluntary displacement of Palestinians, and preventing threats to Egyptian national security. Rashwan added that the crossing had been open from the Egyptian side early in the war, including to allow Palestinians stranded in Egypt to return to Gaza, before Israel unilaterally closed and destroyed it on the Palestinian side.
Rashwan's remarks followed an announcement by Israel's Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT), which said it was preparing to reopen the crossing in the coming days to allow Palestinians to exit toward Egypt, requiring Israeli security approval and coordination with Cairo under European Union supervision, without specifying timing or eligibility. After Egypt's denial, Israel's Channel 12 quoted an unnamed official saying Israel had already opened crossings to facilitate Palestinian departures, adding: "If the Egyptian side does not want to receive them, that is their problem." Another Israeli official told the Associated Press that all Palestinians wishing to leave Gaza could do so "as long as Egypt agrees to receive them," but confirmed Rafah would not reopen for returns to the enclave.
Palestinian factions urged international mediators to pressure Israel to fulfill commitments under the Sharm El-Sheikh ceasefire agreement and UN Security Council Resolution 2803, calling for Rafah to reopen in both directions. In a statement released by Hamas, the factions warned against Israeli attempts to limit movement to outward departures only. Diplomatic tensions escalated as Israeli forces intensified operations in eastern Gaza City, particularly in the Tuffah, Zeitoun, and Daraj neighborhoods, with heavy gunfire, home demolitions, and expanded artillery and airstrikes, according to residents. Gaza's Health Ministry reported five killed, including one from rubble, and 13 injured over the past 48 hours. Since the ceasefire began, 360 have been killed and 922 injured. The overall toll since October 2023 stands at 70,117 killed and 170,999 wounded.
Hamas spokesperson Hazem Qassem accused Israel of "serious violations" of the ceasefire, including attacks on shelters and displacement camps in central Gaza and the deliberate killing of a journalist in Khan Younis. He said ongoing killings, demolitions, and aid restrictions show that "the occupation is pursuing the same goals of its war of extermination, even if the pace has changed." Meanwhile, Hamas's Izz Al-Din Al-Qassam Brigades and Islamic Jihad's Al-Quds Brigades announced they had located the body of an Israeli captive in northern Gaza and would hand it over on Wednesday as part of the "Al-Aqsa Flood" prisoner exchange arrangements.
Humanitarian conditions in Gaza continue to deteriorate, with the United Nations stating that more than 16,500 Palestinians still require life-saving medical treatment outside the enclave. UN spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric said agencies are scaling up aid amid intensifying winter conditions, distributing thousands of essential items like clothing, blankets, and hygiene supplies, and deploying 160 "activity tents" for children's psychological support. The World Health Organization evacuated 18 patients and 54 companions on Monday for treatment abroad. Rafah, once a critical humanitarian lifeline, briefly reopened during a short January truce before closure after Israeli forces seized the Palestinian side in May, claiming terrorist use. Its future now depends on the ongoing diplomatic standoff and mediators' ability to enforce ceasefire commitments.