Two Israeli soldiers were seriously wounded during a firefight in the southern Gaza city of Rafah, Israeli media reported, in what has been described as an unusually intense exchange of fire.

According to Israeli sources, fighters emerged from a tunnel in Rafah and attacked Israeli forces stationed in the area with gunfire and anti-tank projectiles, highlighting the scale and coordination of the assault. Channel 12 referred to the incident as “exceptional", emphasizing its unusual nature and the level of danger involved.

Preliminary reports indicated that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Security Minister Israel Katz were briefed on the incident immediately after it occurred, as authorities closely monitored the evolving situation.

Israeli media also noted that the two are expected to hold a security assessment soon, amid discussions about the possibility of initiating a wave of attacks in Gaza.

Palestinian factions call for the opening of Rafah crossing

Meanwhile, Palestinian factions and political forces have called on mediators and guarantor countries to ensure the Rafah crossing in southern Gaza is opened in both directions, emphasizing the urgency of facilitating the movement of people.

In a statement, they urged pressure on "Israel" to implement the provisions of the Sharm El-Sheikh agreement and United Nations Security Council Resolution 2803, warning against any attempts by "Israel" to manipulate or evade these obligations or to limit the crossing’s operation to a single direction as suggested by some Israeli sources.

The statement also stressed the importance of holding "Israel" accountable for fully adhering to the terms of the ceasefire agreement.

Opened one way

Earlier, the Israeli government’s Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT) office announced that the Rafah crossing would be opened in the coming days for residents leaving Gaza to Egypt.

According to the office’s statement on X, this step would be taken “under the ceasefire agreement and at the direction of the political level,” with departures coordinated with Egypt, approved by Israeli security, and supervised by the European Union mission, though no further details were provided.

In response, Egypt denied on Wednesday that it had reached any agreement with "Israel" to open Rafah in one direction only. Since May 2024, "Israel" has occupied the Palestinian side of the crossing, destroying and burning its buildings and preventing Palestinians, particularly patients, from traveling. The blockade has caused a severe humanitarian crisis. The crossing was initially scheduled to reopen in October 2024 as part of the first phase of the ceasefire agreement, but Israeli authorities have yet to comply.

Significance of Rafah crossing

The Rafah crossing is the only land border between the Gaza Strip and Egypt, making it a critical lifeline for over two million Palestinians living under blockade.

The crossing is significant not only for humanitarian reasons, as it provides access for patients, students, and aid, but also politically, as it is tied to ceasefire arrangements and international negotiations. Under previous agreements, including the 2005 Access and Movement Agreement, the European Union Border Assistance Mission (EUBAM) was tasked with supervising operations at Rafah, though their presence has been sporadic due to instability.