US presses Israel to reopen Rafah Crossing as ceasefire talks continue

The Trump administration expects Israel to reopen the Rafah Border Crossing between Gaza and Egypt in the coming days, a U.S. official told The Times of Israel. The move is intended to facilitate the entry and exit of Gazans from the coastal enclave.

U.S. President Donald Trump and his aides reportedly raised the issue with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during his recent visit to the president's private residence, Mar-a-Lago, in Palm Beach, Florida. The border crossing was expected to open as part of the U.S.-brokered ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas in October. However, Israel has imposed restrictions until Hamas returns the body of the final deceased Israeli hostage, Police Master Sgt. Ran Gvili.

The Rafah Crossing has often been described as the lifeline for the terrorist organization Hamas. In May 2024, Israeli soldiers seized the Rafah Border crossing on the Gaza side to prevent Hamas from smuggling weapons and other goods into the coastal enclave.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he is prepared to give the ceasefire’s second phase a chance after he and Trump set a two-month deadline for Hamas to lay down its weapons.

“He said, ‘Look, skip all this press stuff.’ I mean, the real thing is, you have got to get Hamas to disarm. He just banged the nail on the head, you know,” Netanyahu told Fox News, referring to Trump.

“If they don’t disarm as they agreed to do, then there will be hell to pay for them,” Trump told media representatives regarding Hamas. “They have to disarm in a fairly short period of time,” Trump added.

Hamas has so far refused to disarm, while countries that have offered to contribute troops to a proposed International Stabilization Force have emphasized that they do not intend to confront Hamas operatives in the Gaza Strip. Israel has stressed that it will use force to disarm Hamas if the international community fails to carry out the task.

Benjamin Netanyahu explained in September 2024 the importance of Israel maintaining military control of the Philadelphi Corridor, which runs along the Rafah border.

“The axis of evil needs the Philadelphi Corridor and for that same reason we must control it,” Netanyahu stated, referring to the Iranian terror proxies, including Hamas, Hezbollah in Lebanon and the Houthis in Yemen.

The situation surrounding the Rafah Border Crossing has been further complicated by Egypt’s decision to keep the crossing closed on its side of the border. The Egyptian government has been vocal in opposing the entry of Gazans into Egypt via Rafah, fearing that displaced residents could remain in the country permanently.

Meanwhile, IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir, who visited Israeli troops in Gaza on Wednesday, vowed that 2026 would be a “decisive year” for Israel's security.

“We will not allow the Hamas terrorist organization to rebuild its capabilities and threaten us,” Zamir stated.