Israel on Monday reopened the Rafah crossing to a trickle of Palestinians for the first time in months, a major step in a U.-backed plan to end the war, though strict Israeli security checks slowed the process.

The brother of Israel’s security chief was arrested along with 14 others in a major police bust of an alleged smuggling ring accused of shipping crates of illegal goods into the Gaza Strip.

COGAT, the Israeli military body in charge of coordinating aid to Gaza, said in a statement that starting on Sunday a "limited movement of people only" would be allowed through the Rafah crossing, Gaza's main gateway to the outside world.

Israel says the remains of the final hostage in Gaza have been recovered, clearing the way for the next phase of the ceasefire that stopped the Israel-Hamas war.

Israel and Egypt reopened the Rafah Crossing between Gaza and Egypt in a limited test on Sunday as part of the ongoing 20-point peace plan.

Gaza’s Rafah border crossing with Egypt reopened on Monday for limited traffic.

Al-Shifa Hospital director says blocking medical evacuations through Rafah crossing could be ‘death sentence’ for many.