"I am pleased to announce the Rafah crossing will open next week in both directions for Palestinians in Gaza," Shaath said in a recorded speech aired at the signing ceremony of the Board of Peace charter, attended by US President Donald Trump.
Shaath described Rafah as "a lifeline and symbol of opportunity," adding that the reopening "signals that Gaza is no longer closed to the future."
He expressed gratitude to Trump for backing peace initiatives and credited Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, along with Qatar and Turkey, for their mediation roles in brokering the truce.
"These efforts have opened the door to an opportunity for a new future in Gaza, but what matters is what comes next," Shaath told the gathering.
Shaath, a former deputy minister in the Palestinian Authority, is leading Gaza's new transition committee, which is made up of technocratic figures. It is tasked with overseeing the transition of power in the strip as part of Trump's 20-point plan to end Israel's two-year war.
He also outlined an ambitious agenda centered on institutional rebuilding and improving daily life for Gaza's residents.
Operating under the principle of "one authority, one weapon, one law," Shaath pledged to "restore order, rebuild institutions, and open the door to a better and more dignified future" for Gazans.
While acknowledging the enormous challenges ahead, Shaath struck an optimistic tone in remarks directed at Gaza's population.
"You have persevered, you have protected your families and your land, and you have endured," he said. "We are working to build a prosperous future for our children without fear or anxiety."
However, Shaath warned that the path forward "will be full of difficult decisions and setbacks."
Israel has kept the Palestinian side of the crossing closed as part of its blockade imposed on the strip since May 2023.
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