Israel to reopen Gaza's Rafah border crossing and acknowledges high death toll

Israel announced it will partially reopen the Rafah border crossing between Gaza and Egypt on Sunday, February 1. The crossing has been closed for a long period, with some reports saying almost two years. The opening is described as a limited, largely symbolic move with strict security arrangements.

At the same time, the Israeli military reportedly acknowledged a death toll of around 70,000 people in Gaza. This figure aligns with numbers previously reported by the Gaza Health Ministry, which Israel had previously cast doubt on. The civilian-to-combatant ratio within that toll remains unclear.

There are disagreements between Israel and Egypt over the details of the Rafah crossing's operation, including the number of people and aid trucks allowed to pass. Israel has stated it wants 'more exits than entries' and is seeking to limit the number of aid trucks entering Gaza. Meanwhile, hundreds of thousands of Gazans, including many sick and injured, are awaiting the crossing's opening as a potential lifeline.