Cairo: Egypt announced its readiness to receive wounded individuals from the Gaza Strip and deliver humanitarian aid once the Rafah border crossing is reopened. North Sinai Governor Maj. Gen. Khaled Mujawir informed state television that the Egyptian side of the Rafah crossing is equipped for any developments on the ground.

According to Anadolu Agency, the crisis management center is assessing potential scenarios, including the delivery of aid, as they prepare for the reopening of the crossing. Coordination is ongoing with the crisis center in Cairo and other state institutions to ensure preparedness for aid entry and to receive the wounded from Gaza.

US President Donald Trump declared on October 9, 2025, that Israel and Hamas had agreed on the first phase of a Gaza ceasefire plan, facilitated by negotiations in Egypt. The ceasefire was implemented the following day, after receiving the Israeli government’s approval. On January 26, the body of the last Israeli captive in Gaza, Ran Gvili, was repatriated, with Palestinian groups in Gaza largely meeting the conditions of the agreement’s first phase.

Despite the ceasefire, Israeli military actions against Palestinians in Gaza have persisted. Trump’s Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff revealed on January 14 that the second phase of a 20-point Gaza plan had commenced. A Gaza National Administration Committee, led by Palestinian technocrat Ali Shaas, was established to govern the enclave.

The reopening of the Rafah crossing, controlled by Israel since May 2024, and the facilitation of humanitarian aid to Gaza in agreed quantities are key components of the first phase of the agreement. According to Israel’s state broadcaster KAN, the Rafah crossing is anticipated to reopen in both directions on February 1.