Gaza's Rafah Crossing With Egypt Reopens, Israeli Security Official Says
Current section Live Updates Print in a simple, ad-free format Ad-free and in a comfortable reading format Far-right agitator Roi Starblocked and verbally assaulted human rights activists in the eastern West Bank in a confrontation on Monday. The activists from Looking the Occupation in the Eyes had arrived in the village of Fasayil to help its residents clear out trash and were evacuated by the army and police. According to the activists, the trash was left by a settler at the door of one of the residents' homes. One activist told Haaretz that Starr spoke to the police officers who were there and threatened her and other activists. "He said that now there will be a lot of activists here and we won't be able to come here anymore," she said. Last week, Star, alongside four other agitators, attacked human rights activists in the West Bank. Star, who activists say pepper-sprayed them,was seen laterat President Isaac Herzog's Residence in Jerusalem at an event featuring U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee. The IDF issued an evacuation notice to two villages in southern Lebanon on Monday, ahead of an attack. IDF Spokesperson in Arabic Avichay Adraee, in a post on X, warned of an imminent attack on the villages of Kfar Tebnit and Ain Qana, which, according to the IDF, are located near buildings used by Hezbollah as "military infrastructure." Negotiations between Iran and the U.S. may begin in the coming days, the Iranian Tasnim news agency reported Monday. A source familiar with the details told Tasnim that a meeting between Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and Middle East Envoy Steve Witkoff is possible. The source added that no exact location or date has been set yet. Earlier Monday, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghi said that Iran was examining the details of "some diplomatic processes." He wrote that he hoped the results of these processes would become clear in the coming days. According to the state news agency IRNA, Araghchi spoke with the foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Turkey about "recent regional and international developments." On Sunday, Araghchi said in an interview with CNN that Iran "has lost confidence in the United States as a negotiating partner," but added that he believes a deal can be reached. U.S. President Donald Trump said Sunday that he hopes Iran and his country will be able to reach an agreement. Trump was referring to threats by Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who said that any attack on his country would lead to a regional war. "I hope we reach an agreement, but if we don't, we'll find out whether he was right or not," Trump said. Britain's foreign minister, Yvette Cooper, welcomed the reopening of Gaza's main border crossing in Rafah but emphasised that much more still needed to be done. "I welcome Rafah reopening for people to cross both ways on foot, allowing some in desperate need to access medical care in Egypt," Cooper said on X. "But much more still needs to be done." She added, "Aid must flow in, restrictions on essential supplies must ease, & aid workers must be allowed to operate." U.S. President Donald Trump's Middle East Envoy Steve Witkoff is expected to visit Israel for meetings with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Israel's military chief, two senior Israeli officials said on Monday. The officials said Witkoff's visit to the country was expected to begin on Tuesday, amid heightened regional tensions with Iran, and as the Trump administration presses ahead with the second phase of the U.S.-backed Gaza cease-fire. Witkoff's meetings will be preparatory ahead of the talks possibly resuming, an Israeli official said, and would follow up on a weekend meeting by Israeli military chief Eyal Zamir with his U.S. counterpart General Dan Caine in Washington. Spain condemned Israel on Monday over its new policy, which will see Doctors Without Borders cease its operations in Gaza. On Friday, the organizationannouncedthat it will reject Israel's demand to hand over a staff list, as part of a procedure approved in 2025, which allows the Israeli government to enforce strict permit conditions on NGOs seeking to operate in Gaza or the West Bank. That refusal is expected to force Doctors Without Borders to cease all operations in both territories. In its statement,Spain's foreign ministrysaid it "urges [Israel] to reverse this decision, which seriously undermines the most basic moral principles." The ministry added that NGOs such as Doctors Without Borders "provide irreplaceable assistance in life-saving services in Gaza and the West Bank." Russia is still trying to de-escalate tensions around Iran, the Kremlin said on Monday, and that it had long ago offered its services to process or store Iran's enriched uranium. Asked if Russia was discussing with Iran and the United States the possibility of taking Iranian enriched uranium, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said, "This topic has been on the agenda for a long time. Russia has been offering its services for quite a long time as a possible option that would lead to the removal of certain irritants for a number of countries." "Right now, Russia is continuing its efforts, continuing its contacts with all interested parties, and maintains its readiness to de-escalate tensions around Iran to the best of its ability," he added. Israel's Supreme Court issued a conditional order requiring the government to explain why the government's decision to shut down the Israeli Army Radio should not be overturned. Judges said the government's response, due March 15, must focus on the legality of the decision-making process and how discretion was applied. The ruling shifts the burden of proof to the government and Defense Minister Israel Katz: if they fail to justify the closure, the court could make the order final and halt the shutdown. The court questioned political motives, citing a letter from Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi advocating closure to advance a "right-liberal agenda." Galatz staff union responded: "We will continue serving as a public, military, and state media outlet for the people of Israel." The Union of Journalists in Israel welcomed the ruling, saying it hopes the conditional order becomes permanent and the political attempt to silence Army Radio will be stopped. Here are Monday's latest updates on everything taking place in Israel, Gaza, the West Bank and the wider Middle East: ■ Gaza's Rafahcrossing with Egypt has reopened for the limited movement of residents for both entry and exit, Egyptian andIsraeli security sources reported. ■IDFair force struck a "Hezbollahterrorist" in the area of Ansariyah in southernLebanon, according toan IDF statement. ■IDFtroops demolished the home ofMahmoud Abed, the Palestinian gunman who carried out the deadly shooting attack at aWest Bankshopping center in July. ■ Israeli police releasedfar-right activistMordechai David under restrictive conditions after beingquestioned on suspicionof disturbing public order, trespassing and assault. ■ A prominent U.K. LGBTQ activist, Peter Tatchell, was arrested for carrying a "globalise the intifada" sign during apro-Palestinian rally in London. The IDF struck a "Hezbollah terrorist" in the area of Ansariyah in southern Lebanon, according to an IDF statement.