Middle Eastern Conflict - Aid to flow once more through Rafah towards Gaza.
Recent reports suggest that Israel and Egypt are set to reopen the Rafah crossing in the southern Gaza Strip to allow for the transportation of humanitarian aid due to United States pressure. This news was shared by the Israeli broadcaster Kan, though it is yet unclear when the checkpoint will be opened. Delegations from the United States, Israel, and Egypt are expected to discuss the matter in the coming days in Cairo as per the US news portal "Axios".
A US delegation led by the Director of the Middle East at the National Security Council of the White House, Terry Wolff, will be at the meeting in Cairo to discuss ways of preventing the smuggling of weapons for the Islamist Hamas through tunnels under the border. The plan is to construct a subterranean wall to tackle this issue similarly to the one Israel has built on its border with the Gaza Strip.
The Israeli army is said to have taken control of the entire section of the border with Egypt, with over 20 tunnels leading to Egypt in the approximately 14-kilometer-long border sector. The Hamas has been using the Philadelphi Corridor, a border area, for the smuggling of weapons, according to an army spokesperson. To stop this from happening in future, a subterranean wall is being planned. The border region has about 20 tunnels that could potentially be used to smuggle weapons.
The main focus of the impending talks in Cairo is believed to be on reopening the Rafah crossing. The indication is that Israel has agreed to fulfill an Egyptian condition and withdraw its troops from the checkpoint, as per a report by Kan. It is also believed that Israel has proposed a plan whereby Palestinians, who have no affiliation with the Hamas or any other terrorist groups, could take over control of the crossing. In this case, Israel's troops would then withdraw and secure the crossing from the outside against attacks by the Hamas. Aid shipments from Egypt had been halted two weeks ago in protest at Israel's takeover of the Palestinian side of the crossing.
Egypt's President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi agreed in a conversation with US President Joe Biden to reopen the Kerem Shalom crossing near Rafah for humanitarian aid. Biden had pledged in the same conversation that the US would push for the rapid reopening of the Rafah crossing if aid deliveries to Gaza resumed, according to "Axios". The US and Egypt are serving as intermediaries between Israel and the Hamas in the indirect negotiations over a ceasefire and hostage release during the Gaza war.
Hamas has informed the mediators that they will only return to the negotiation table for a hostage agreement if Israel halts the fighting. The terrorist organisation is ready for a "comprehensive agreement" on the release of kidnapped Israelis in exchange for Palestinian prisoners. The catch is that the war must end first. If this occurs, they are willing to continue the negotiations for a comprehensive exchange agreement. However, the current Israeli government remains adamant against ending the war.
It is not clear what constitutes a comprehensive agreement. It could imply the exchange of all hostages for Palestinian prisoners at once, instead of the initial phased arrangement.
Israel's national security adviser Tzachi Hanegbi has told relatives of the hostages being held that the current government is unwilling to end the war. The indirect negotiations for a deal have been unsuccessful in the past because the Hamas required Israel to end the war as a prerequisite for even a partial release of the hostages.
According to Palestinian reports, a man has been shot dead during Israeli army operations in the West Bank, with the health ministry in Ramallah confirming a bullet to the chest. Four other Palestinians sustained injuries in confrontations during a raid. The reports are yet to be independently verified.
The Israeli military acknowledged it was investigating the incidents. Palestinian sources claimed several people were injured in the refugee camp in Jenin during a raid. Although the Israeli army confirmed anti-terror operations had been carried out in the region, Palestinians had initially thrown explosives and fired shots at them, prompting a response with gunfire from the security forces.
Since the Gaza war against the Hamas and other extremist groups on October 7 last year, which caused over 1,200 deaths in Israel, the already strained situation in the West Bank has worsened further. At least 498 Palestinians have been killed since then in Israeli military operations, confrontations, or their own attacks. There have also been several attacks by Israeli settlers on Palestinians.
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- The proposed ceasefire and hostage release discussions between Israel and Hamas are being facilitated by the USA and Egypt.
- The reopening of the Kerem Shalom crossing in Egypt for humanitarian aid to Gaza is contingent on a ceasefire and the resumption of aid deliveries.
- The Rafah border crossing in the Gaza Strip is set to reopen for humanitarian aid transport following pressure from the USA.
- The Israeli Army has taken control of the border sector with Egypt, where over 20 tunnels are used for weapon smuggling, and plans to construct a subterranean wall.
- Egypt's President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and US President Joe Biden discussed reopening the Kerem Shalom crossing, with Biden committing to pushing for the swift reopening of the Rafah crossing if aid deliveries to Gaza resume.
- The Israeli government remains resistant to ending the ongoing conflict, making the realization of a hostage agreement with Hamas challenging.
- Hamas has conditions for returning to negotiations, including Israel halting the fighting and agreeing to a comprehensive exchange of hostages and Palestinian prisoners.
- The Israeli military is investigating incidents involving Palestinian casualties during operations in the West Bank, following reports of a man being shot dead and several injuries sustained.
- The reopened crossings will contribute to improving transportation and humanitarian aid flow to the Palestinian territories, including the West Bank and Gaza Strip.
- Recent military conflicts in the Middle East, such as the war against Hamas and other extremist groups in Gaza, have exacerbated an already tense situation in the West Bank.
- The Egyptian government, along with the US, serves an intermediary role in the indirect negotiations between Israel and Hamas over the ceasefire and hostage release.
