Khaberni - The Israeli army radio reported on Sunday that the United States has reached an understanding with the office of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu regarding the opening of the Rafah border crossing between Egypt and the Gaza Strip.
The radio mentioned sources saying that the understanding between Washington and Netanyahu’s office was reached last week.
The Israeli army took control of the Rafah crossing in May 2024, during a ground operation it launched in the city of Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip, where since then the crossing has been closed and its buildings destroyed.
Reuters reported that American envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner are in Israel to meet with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, primarily to discuss Gaza.
The United States announced on Thursday plans to build a "New Gaza" from scratch, which includes residential towers, data centers, and seaside resorts, as part of President Donald Trump’s efforts to advance a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas amidst ongoing violations.
Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper mentioned that the envoys' agenda includes opening the Rafah crossing and starting the reconstruction of the Strip according to Trump's vision.
Ali Shaath, the chairman of the Palestinian Technocrat Committee, said on Thursday that the Rafah crossing between the Gaza Strip and Egypt will reopen next week, after being almost completely closed during the war between Hamas and Israel.
Shaath announced this via a video link during the inauguration ceremony of the Gaza Peace Council hosted by US President Donald Trump, attended by several leaders to officially launch the "Peace Council" which initially focuses on solidifying the ceasefire in the Gaza Strip.
Shaath said, “I am pleased to announce that the Rafah crossing will open next week in both directions. For the Palestinians in Gaza, Rafah is more than just a crossing; it is a lifeline and a symbol of opportunity.”
He continued, “Opening the Rafah crossing indicates that Gaza is no longer closed to the future nor captive to war."
He said it is his responsibility to turn the current moment into an opportunity to achieve a dignified future for the residents of the Gaza Strip.
Shaath called on the international community to work with the committee and judge it by its actions.
The reopening of the Rafah crossing, the main gateway for the Gaza Strip to the world, is one of the most prominent items not implemented from the ceasefire agreement mediated by Trump in October.
