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Rafah Crossing to Open Soon to Let Gazans Cross into Egypt, Israel Says 

People stand in front of the Palestinian side of the Rafah crossing during the first hours of a four-day truce in the battles between Israel and Hamas on November 24, 2023. (AFP)
People stand in front of the Palestinian side of the Rafah crossing during the first hours of a four-day truce in the battles between Israel and Hamas on November 24, 2023. (AFP)
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Rafah Crossing to Open Soon to Let Gazans Cross into Egypt, Israel Says 

People stand in front of the Palestinian side of the Rafah crossing during the first hours of a four-day truce in the battles between Israel and Hamas on November 24, 2023. (AFP)
People stand in front of the Palestinian side of the Rafah crossing during the first hours of a four-day truce in the battles between Israel and Hamas on November 24, 2023. (AFP)

Gaza's main gateway will open in the next few days, Israel said on Wednesday, allowing thousands of Palestinians who are in need of medical care to leave the war-ravaged enclave through Egypt.

COGAT, the Israeli military arm that oversees humanitarian matters, said the opening of the Rafah crossing will be coordinated with Egypt, under the supervision of the European Union mission, similar to a mechanism employed during a previous Gaza ceasefire agreed in January 2025.

Under US President Donald Trump's 20-point plan that has largely halted the two-year war between Israel and Hamas, the crossing was to open in both directions.

THOUSANDS OF PALESTINIANS WAITING FOR TREATMENT

Before the war, the Rafah crossing was the only direct exit point for most Palestinians in Gaza to reach the outside world and was a key entry point for aid into the territory. It has been mostly closed throughout the conflict.

At least 16,500 patients in Gaza are in need of medical care outside of the enclave, according to the United Nations. Some Gazans managed to leave for medical treatment abroad through Israel.

"We have been waiting for the Rafah opening for months," said Gaza businessman Tamer al-Burai, who needs treatment abroad for a respiratory condition. "At last, I and thousands of other patients, may have a chance to receive proper treatment," Burai told Reuters by phone from Gaza.

Israel has kept Rafah shut in both directions since the ceasefire came into effect in October, saying that Hamas must abide by the agreement to return all hostages still in Gaza, living and deceased.

Hamas has returned all 20 living hostages in exchange for around 2,000 Palestinian detainees and convicted prisoners, but two more deceased captives - an Israeli police officer and a Thai agricultural worker - are still in Gaza.

Islamic Jihad, a Palestinian group allied with Hamas which had also held some of the hostages taken in the October 7, 2023 attack on Israel that triggered the war, said on Wednesday that it was searching together with the Red Cross for the body of one of the remaining deceased captives.

The Islamic Jihad announcement came a day after Hamas handed over remains it said were of one of the two deceased hostages, but which were found to not belong to either of them following forensic tests in Israel.

Handing over all the hostages was a central tenet of the first phase of the ceasefire. Major obstacles lie ahead of the next phase, including the question of Hamas disarming, Israel's withdrawal from Gaza, governance of the enclave and international security arrangements.

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Arab World

US Embassy Urges Americans to Leave Iraq

A photograph shows the damage following a reported drone strike on the US embassy in Baghdad's fortified "Green Zone" on March 14, 2026. (Photo by Murtadha RIDHA / AFP)
A photograph shows the damage following a reported drone strike on the US embassy in Baghdad's fortified "Green Zone" on March 14, 2026. (Photo by Murtadha RIDHA / AFP)
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US Embassy Urges Americans to Leave Iraq

A photograph shows the damage following a reported drone strike on the US embassy in Baghdad's fortified "Green Zone" on March 14, 2026. (Photo by Murtadha RIDHA / AFP)
A photograph shows the damage following a reported drone strike on the US embassy in Baghdad's fortified "Green Zone" on March 14, 2026. (Photo by Murtadha RIDHA / AFP)

US citizens should leave Iraq immediately, the US embassy in Baghdad said in an updated security alert ⁠on Saturday, following ⁠an overnight missile attack on the ⁠embassy's building.

"US citizens choosing to remain in Iraq are strongly encouraged to reconsider in light of the ⁠significant ⁠threat posed by Iran-aligned terrorist militia groups," the embassy said.

Arab World

Israel Threatens to Strike Ambulances in Lebanon in Hezbollah Fighting

Rescue workers carry a body from an apartment destroyed in an Israeli airstrike in the southern port city of Sidon, Lebanon, Saturday, March 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Mohammad Zaatari)
Rescue workers carry a body from an apartment destroyed in an Israeli airstrike in the southern port city of Sidon, Lebanon, Saturday, March 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Mohammad Zaatari)
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Israel Threatens to Strike Ambulances in Lebanon in Hezbollah Fighting

Rescue workers carry a body from an apartment destroyed in an Israeli airstrike in the southern port city of Sidon, Lebanon, Saturday, March 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Mohammad Zaatari)
Rescue workers carry a body from an apartment destroyed in an Israeli airstrike in the southern port city of Sidon, Lebanon, Saturday, March 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Mohammad Zaatari)

The Israeli military warned on Saturday that it may strike ambulances and medical facilities which it said were being used unlawfully by Hezbollah in Lebanon, though it did not provide evidence for the claim.

"As part of its terrorist activities, Hezbollah is using ambulances extensively for military purposes," the Israeli military's Arabic spokesman Avichai Adraee said on X, adding that such use must immediately stop, AFP reported.

"If this practice does not stop, Israel will act in accordance with international law against any military activity carried out by the terrorist group Hezbollah using these facilities and ambulances," Adraee said.

A Hezbollah official said that the group was not using ambulances and medical facilities for military purposes.

The Israeli military did not immediately respond to a request to provide evidence that Hezbollah was using medical facilities or ambulances unlawfully.

At least 26 medics and first responders have been killed in Israeli strikes since March 2 according to the Lebanese Health Ministry. The Israeli military says it takes precautions to try to reduce any harm to civilians.

On Friday, Israeli aircraft dropped flyers over Beirut threatening to inflict damage on Lebanon similar to the devastation wrought on Gaza during Israel's two-year war with Palestinian militant group Hamas. Much of Gaza has been reduced to rubble and its population largely displaced.

On Friday Israel bombed a bridge in southern Lebanon which it said was being used by Hezbollah and Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz threatened to strike national infrastructure exploited by Hezbollah.

Israel has deployed more troops to its northern border with Lebanon, and has signalled it is planning for a long campaign.

An Israeli official told Reuters on Friday that the campaign against Hezbollah would likely be intensified and continue even after strikes on Iran die down.

The official said that attacks on civilian infrastructure were being debated by the decision-makers.

Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem said on Friday that his group was prepared for a long confrontation.

Arab World

UN Chief Says 'Diplomatic Avenues' Available to Stop War in Lebanon

Israeli soldiers work on the belts for their tanks at a staging area in the Upper Galilee in northern Israel near the border with Lebanon on March 13, 2026. (Photo by Odd ANDERSEN / AFP) /
Israeli soldiers work on the belts for their tanks at a staging area in the Upper Galilee in northern Israel near the border with Lebanon on March 13, 2026. (Photo by Odd ANDERSEN / AFP) /
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UN Chief Says 'Diplomatic Avenues' Available to Stop War in Lebanon

Israeli soldiers work on the belts for their tanks at a staging area in the Upper Galilee in northern Israel near the border with Lebanon on March 13, 2026. (Photo by Odd ANDERSEN / AFP) /
Israeli soldiers work on the belts for their tanks at a staging area in the Upper Galilee in northern Israel near the border with Lebanon on March 13, 2026. (Photo by Odd ANDERSEN / AFP) /

UN chief Antonio Guterres said Saturday on a visit to Beirut that diplomatic channels remained open to end the war between Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah and urged the international community to support Lebanon.

"There is no military solution, only diplomacy, dialogue and full implementation of the UN Charter and Security Council resolutions. The diplomatic avenues are available, including through my special coordinator for Lebanon... and through key member states," he said.

Lebanon was dragged into the Middle East war last week when militant group Hezbollah attacked Israel in response to the killing of Iranian supreme leader Ali Khamenei in US-Israeli strikes.

"We are doing everything we can now to bring about an immediate de-escalation and the cessation of hostilities," Guterres told reporters.

"My special coordinator is engaging with all actors around the clock to bring the parties to the table and UNIFIL peacekeepers... remain in position," he said, referring to the UN Interim Force in Lebanon.

He said attacks against peacekeepers and positions were "completely unacceptable and they must stop. They are in breach of international law and may constitute war crimes".

Three peacekeepers serving with the Ghanaian contingent were wounded earlier this month in south Lebanon.

Guterres arrived in Beirut on Friday for what he called a "solidarity" visit, and launched a $325 million humanitarian appeal to support Lebanon as it responds to the displacement crisis.

On Saturday, he urged support for the Lebanese government, which last year committed to disarming Hezbollah.

"My message to the international community is simply step up your engagement, empower the Lebanese state and support the Lebanese Armed Forces to secure the capabilities and resources they need. Respond generously to the humanitarian appeal," he said.

The Israeli army has issued sweeping evacuation orders to residents of south Lebanon and Beirut's southern suburbs, with the Norwegian Refugee Council saying they cover 14 percent of Lebanese territory.

"Evacuation orders in a situation where so many vulnerable populations exist in the areas that are asked to be evacuated does not create enough security for civilians, and whatever does not create enough security for civilians inevitably becomes in violation of international humanitarian law," Guterres said.