Rafah is one of the largest cities in the Gaza Strip, located on its far southern end on the border with Egypt.
The city is the site of the Rafah border crossing, the only entry and exit point out of Gaza and into Egypt, compared to the other border crossings that go into Israel.
Rafah is partially divided, with part of the city being located on the Egyptian side of the border. A network of smuggling tunnels run beneath the city and crossing in an attempt to circumvent the blockade around Gaza.
The border crossing is being opened earlier than expected due to the release of hostages on Thursday, which was not originally in the agreement.
The delivery was frozen by the Biden administration in May due to the Israeli operation in Rafah.
The ceasefire was meant to go into effect on Sunday at 8:30 a.m. local time but was delayed due to Hamas's failure to provide the list of names of the three hostages to be released on the same day.
Despite repeating his account twice, Alkadi's claims were dismissed. A few days later, the bodies of six hostages were discovered in the same tunnel.
"The Post" analyzes claims made by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during a comprehensive interview with "The Wall Street Journal."
"Israeli communities near the Gaza Strip are coming back to life. Residents are returning, and as they do, our responsibility grows even greater—not less."
An anonymous Palestinian described the ongoing suffering in Gaza, insisting Hamas must end it by releasing the hostages and ceding power.
Netanyahu's attorney Amit Haddad stated that recent security developments made proper defense preparations "impossible."
“All Eyes on Rafah” may become the defining slogan of this multi-front war, but it has taken on new meaning. By eliminating Sinwar, Netanyahu has achieved a key war objective.
Deputy head of Hamas's political bureau, Mousa Abu Marzouk, insisted that their release would still be contingent on a deal.