Washington asked Israel to open the Rafah crossing immediately and debate who will control it after the army withdraws
On Wednesday, the Israeli media reported Wednesday evening that the United States had asked Israel to reopen the Rafah crossing in the southern Gaza Strip immediately.
“After the Israeli army took control over the Rafah crossing, Tuesday, senior US officials (without naming them) told Israel that it must be opened now, in order to transport humanitarian aid to Gaza,” the Kann TV said.
“At the same time, frantic discussions began in the security establishment on the question of who would control the crossing after IDF forces left the place”.
“It’s not yet clear when the crossing will be opened to transport humanitarian aid,” Kann TV said.
“Israel has informed the United States that the crossing will open after it is determined who will manage it,” Kann TV said.
The Israeli channel explained that the US administration claims that Israel hasn’t yet provided a full explanation of the question of who will be responsible for managing the Rafah crossing.
It quoted unnamed Israeli security officials as saying that Israel won’t allow Hamas operatives to return to manage the crossing.
The Israeli officials added that several options are now being discussed, including “Israel’s temporary operation of the crossing, or its operation by non-Hamas Palestinian actors after being screened by Israel”.
They noted that Israel is also considering operating the crossing through other parties in the region, for example countries or private companies.
The Kann channel confirmed that “the question of who will manage the Rafah crossing after the war is a fateful issue, which will be raised tomorrow (Thursday) at the Israeli cabinet meeting”.
On Tuesday morning, the Israeli military declared operational control of the Palestinian side of the Rafah crossing linking the Gaza Strip with Egypt.
“The forces cut off the Rafah crossing from the Salah al Din road axis, and now armored forces from the 401st Brigade take full control of the crossing,” he said in a statement.
On Monday, the Israeli army announced the start of a military operation in Rafah, claiming it was limited in scope, and warned 100,000 Palestinians to forcibly evacuate the east of the city and head to the southwest of the Gaza Strip.
