JERUSALEM — The Israel Defense Forces on Sunday published video footage of its new “Regavim” military checkpoint in southern Gaza’s Rafah area, where Palestinians returning from Egypt will undergo Israeli security screening ahead of the Rafah Border Crossing’s partial reopening for pedestrian movement.
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The facility, located in IDF-controlled territory just outside the Egypt-Gaza crossing, is designed to verify identities against approved lists from the Israeli defense establishment and perform thorough luggage inspections, the military said. Only those who pass will proceed into Hamas-administered parts of the enclave.
For departures from Gaza to Egypt, Israel will maintain remote oversight. Officers in a control room will use facial recognition technology to confirm individuals are on approved lists before remotely opening the gate. On-site screenings for exiting travelers will be handled by Palestinian Authority personnel and European Union monitors stationed at the crossing.
The limited pedestrian reopening, which began in a pilot phase and is expected to expand Monday, marks the first such access since Israeli forces seized the crossing in 2024 amid the Israel-Hamas conflict. It aligns with ceasefire arrangements brokered in part under U.S. auspices, initially prioritizing returns for Gazans who fled during the war, with humanitarian aid deliveries also resuming from the Egyptian side.
COGAT, Israel’s Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories, emphasized that all movement requires prior Israeli security clearance and coordination with Egypt, under EU supervision similar to mechanisms used in early 2025.
The step aims to address humanitarian needs while preserving Israeli controls over entry and exit to prevent security threats, officials said.