File Photo: Palestinian Embassy in Cairo. Ahram
The embassy said the move is coordinated with the relevant Egyptian authorities and will follow the existing coordination mechanism.
Palestinians wishing to return were asked to submit their information, including full name, date of birth, passport or national ID number, and mobile phone number, via WhatsApp to 01223301974.
The Palestinian embassy will then contact applicants directly to inform them of gathering points and departure times.
The reopening of the Rafah crossing follows the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas, brokered by Egypt, the United States, Qatar, and Turkey, which took effect on 10 October.
The European Union Border Assistance Mission (EUBAM) resumed operations at the Rafah border crossing on Wednesday.
EUBAM, which includes police officers from Italy, Spain, and France, acts as a neutral third-party presence to ensure secure and transparent management of Gaza’s main gateway to the outside world.
The mission had been suspended in March after Israel resumed its genocidal war on Gaza following a brief truce.
According to Italian Defence Minister Guido Crosetto, the Italian contingent has been authorized to restart its activities under the same conditions set when the mission was first deployed in January.
Crosetto added that Israel is "working to restore the logistical readiness of the crossing's infrastructure as quickly as possible," while around 600 trucks loaded with humanitarian aid are expected to enter Gaza daily through other crossings.
According to the European officials, the EU mission's primary objective, as announced earlier this year, is to coordinate and facilitate the daily crossing of up to 300 wounded and sick individuals, as well as anyone wishing to cross, subject to mutual approval between Israel and Egypt according to the latest ceasefire agreement.
On Friday, the United Nations called for all border crossings into Gaza to be opened immediately to deliver urgently needed aid, warning that reversing the ongoing famine under Israel's blockade will “take some time.”
The World Food Programme (WFP) said it had moved nearly 3,000 tonnes of food supplies into Gaza since the truce began, but that deliveries remain far below needs.
“The ceasefire has opened a narrow window of opportunity,” WFP spokeswoman Abeer Etefa said in Geneva.
“We’re still below what we need, but we’re getting there,” Etefa said, adding that five food distribution points were operating across Gaza, mainly in the south, and that 57 aid trucks carrying flour and nutrition supplies crossed via Karm Abu Salem and Kissufim on Thursday.
The Israeli side has refused to withdraw from the Palestinian side of the Rafah crossing under the pretext of forcing Hamas to find and deliver the remains of all dead Israeli captives.
On Friday, the 52nd Egyptian aid convoy headed toward the Gaza Strip through the Karm Abu Salem crossing, carrying more than 4,000 tons of urgent humanitarian aid, including over 2,300 tons of fuel products, 1,000 tons of food baskets, and 700 tons of medical and relief supplies.
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