Israel announces completion of ‘Regavim’ security corridor for Gaza transfers
The Israeli army says it finished building a complex that will serve as a screening facility for Palestinians passing in and out of Gaza through the Rafah border.
The military also said it completed the construction of a corridor called “Regavim,” which is under the management of Israeli security services in an area under the army’s control.
Israel says only 150 people will be allowed to exit each day. About 20,000 wounded and ill Palestinians – who now have medical evacuation papers – are at risk of dying if they don’t get to healthcare facilities abroad immediately, Gaza authorities say.
In a statement on Friday, Israel’s military agency COGAT said entry into and exit from Gaza via the Rafah crossing will be permitted “in coordination with Egypt, following prior security clearance of individuals by Israel, and under the supervision of the European Union mission, similar to the mechanism implemented in January 2025”.
Imagine Russia deciding and limiting who gets to leave/enter Ukraine as part of ceasefire requirements....
What’s the ‘Regavim’ screening corridor?
The Israeli army has set up a military checkpoint for Palestinians entering Gaza from Egypt and called it the “Regavim” corridor.
- The checkpoint is under the purview of Israeli security services and located in an area under military control outside the Rafah crossing between Gaza and Egypt.
- Israel’s military spokesperson said soldiers will check identities of those arriving against lists approved by Israeli intelligence agencies and will conduct a thorough search of their belongings.
- Only after passing through the Rafah crossing and then Israeli screening will those returning to Gaza be permitted to continue into the besieged enclave.
- However, unlike the entry of Palestinians to Gaza, Israel will only supervise the exit of Palestinians from Gaza to Egypt remotely from a control room using facial recognition software.
150 Palestinians allowed to leave each day, 50 permitted to enter: Report
Only about 150 Palestinians will be allowed to leave Gaza through the Rafah crossing each day after security vetting, while 50 will be allowed to enter the Strip, Israeli media report.
Under the arrangement, the European Union Border Assistance Mission (EUBAM), which will be administering the Palestinian side of the crossing, will submit a list of names of people wishing to leave Gaza along with their final destination to the Egyptian side for security vetting.
Similarly, the Egyptians would submit a list of 50 names of Palestinians wishing to enter who will be permitted to the following day after security screening, news reports said.
Dozens of Gaza patients to leave through crossing with Israel
Palestinian medical sources say about about 25 patients and their companions will leave the Gaza Strip today through the Karem Abu Salem crossing in southern Gaza into Israel.
The patients, most of whom are children, will then leave for treatment in Jordan and Ireland, the sources told Al Jazeera.
None of the estimated 20,000 wounded or sick Palestinians have left the Strip through the Rafah crossing, they said, noting preparations are still underway for their transfer to Egypt.
