Four Zionist soldiers, including an officer from the Golani Brigade, were wounded during a firefight in the southern Gaza city of Rafah, the occupation army announced, in what Zionist media has described as an unusually intense exchange of fire.
One of the wounded soldiers sustained serious injuries.
According to Zionist sources, fighters emerged from a tunnel in Rafah and attacked occupation forces stationed in the area with gunfire and anti-tank projectiles, highlighting the scale and coordination of the assault. Channel 12 referred to the incident as “exceptional”, emphasizing its unusual nature and the level of danger involved.
Preliminary reports indicated that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Security Minister Israel Katz were briefed on the incident immediately after it occurred, as authorities closely monitored the evolving situation.
Zionist media also noted that the two are expected to hold a security assessment soon, amid discussions about the possibility of initiating a wave of attacks in Gaza.
Palestinian factions call for the opening of Rafah crossing
Meanwhile, Palestinian factions and political forces have called on mediators and guarantor countries to ensure the Rafah crossing in southern Gaza is opened in both directions, emphasizing the urgency of facilitating the movement of people.
In a statement, they urged pressure on the occupation to implement the provisions of the Sharm El-Sheikh agreement and United Nations Security Council Resolution 2803, warning against any attempts by the Zionist regime to manipulate or evade these obligations or to limit the crossing’s operation to a single direction as suggested by some Israeli sources.
The statement also stressed the importance of holding the occupation accountable for fully adhering to the terms of the ceasefire agreement.
Opened one way
Earlier, the Zionist government’s Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT) office announced that the Rafah crossing would be opened in the coming days for residents leaving Gaza to Egypt.
According to the office’s statement on X, this step would be taken “under the ceasefire agreement and at the direction of the political level,” with departures coordinated with Egypt, approved by Zionist security, and supervised by the European Union mission, though no further details were provided.
In response, Egypt denied on Wednesday that it had reached any agreement with the occupation to open Rafah in one direction only. Since May 2024, the occupation has occupied the Palestinian side of the crossing, destroying and burning its buildings and preventing Palestinians, particularly patients, from traveling. The blockade has caused a severe humanitarian crisis. The crossing was initially scheduled to reopen in October 2024 as part of the first phase of the ceasefire agreement, but Israeli authorities have yet to comply.
Significance of Rafah crossing
The Rafah crossing is the only land border between the Gaza Strip and Egypt, making it a critical lifeline for over two million Palestinians living under blockade.
The crossing is significant not only for humanitarian reasons, as it provides access for patients, students, and aid, but also politically, as it is tied to ceasefire arrangements and international negotiations. Under previous agreements, including the 2005 Access and Movement Agreement, the European Union Border Assistance Mission (EUBAM) was tasked with supervising operations at Rafah, though their presence has been sporadic due to instability.