ADDS DETAILS
By Yasin Gungor and Michael Gabriel Hernandez
ISTANBUL/WASHINGTON (AA) - The Rafah border crossing between the Gaza Strip and Egypt will reopen next week for two-way travel, the head of Gaza's new transition committee announced Thursday.
"I am pleased to announce the Rafah crossing will open next week in both directions for Palestinians in Gaza," Ali Shaath said at the signing ceremony of the Board of Peace charter.
Shaath, who officially leads the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza, described Rafah as "a lifeline and symbol of opportunity," adding the reopening "signals that Gaza is no longer closed to the future."
Shaath emphasized his responsibility to transform the moment into concrete action, restore order, rebuild institutions and create a future for Gazans "defined by opportunity and dignity under the principle of one authority, one law and one weapon."
"This transition will succeed only if it delivers real, tangible improvements in daily life for Gaza," he said.
Shaath thanked Türkiye, Egypt and Qatar as mediators, along with the Palestinian Authority and UN Security Council members, for welcoming the plan.
The White House announced Friday the members of a new "technocratic" committee that will oversee the transition of power in Gaza, as part of President Donald Trump's 20-point plan to end Israel's genocidal war on the territory.
Shaath is a former Palestinian deputy minister in the Palestinian Authority.
Trump's son-in-law, Jared Kushner, presented a four-phase "master plan" for Gaza during the ceremony, displaying maps showing coastal tourism zones, mixed-use towers, residential and industrial areas, with projections of more than $10 billion in GDP by 2035 and 500,000 new jobs with over $25 billion in investments for modern utilities and public services.
Plans for the new Rafah include more than 100,000 permanent housing units, over 180 cultural and religious centers, 200-plus education facilities and 75-plus medical centers.
The plan outlined demilitarization principles requiring a single civilian authority, dismantling militant groups, and offering amnesty for those who disarm, with reconstruction investments conditional on full demilitarization in each sector.
Kushner said a conference will be held in Washington soon on contributions from the private sector. “There'll be amazing investment opportunities. I know it's a little risky to be investing in a place like this, but we need you to come, take faith, invest in the people, try to be a part of it," he said.