DaysofPal- The office of Israeli occupation Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced on Monday approval for a limited opening of the Rafah Crossing in southern Gaza, allowing only individuals to pass under full Israeli supervision. No specific date for the opening was provided.
The statement emphasized that the crossing would open only after all living and deceased hostages are returned and that Hamas must make its fullest effort to facilitate their handover. The opening is contingent on completing the search for the body of Israeli soldier Sergeant First Class Rani Gvili and returning it according to the agreement with Washington, effectively delaying the crossing’s operation until the search concludes.
Israeli Channel 12 reported that a U.S. official expects the Rafah Crossing to open by the end of the current week.
Earlier, Netanyahu’s office stated that efforts to locate Gvili’s body are currently focused on a cemetery in northern Gaza, using all available intelligence gathered by occupation security agencies. The Israeli military confirmed that the Southern Command has launched a concentrated operation in the “Yellow Line” area in northern Gaza to recover Gvili’s remains.
The announcement followed a meeting of Israel’s security cabinet on Sunday evening to discuss the second phase of the Gaza ceasefire agreement, including the reopening of Rafah Crossing.
The meeting followed Netanyahu’s discussions with the United States in Jerusalem. President’s envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, focusing on reopening the crossing, recovering the soldier’s body, and disarming Hamas. Israeli media reported that the envoys urged Netanyahu to reopen the Rafah Crossing connecting Gaza to Egypt.
Hamas military spokesperson Abu Obeida stated that the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades have handled the issue of captives and remains with full transparency, fulfilling their obligations under the ceasefire agreement. He added that the Brigades handed over all captives and bodies without delay, despite the occupation’s repeated violations and attacks.
Axios reported that Nikolay Mladenov, the UN’s Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, is expected to arrive in Israel on Monday to discuss the reopening of Rafah Crossing and advance the second phase of the ceasefire agreement in Gaza.
On Thursday, Ali Shaath, head of Gaza’s National Administration Committee, said the Rafah Crossing would reopen in both directions next week, without clarifying the mechanism for implementation.
The Israeli occupation captured the Rafah Crossing in May 2024 during its two-year military campaign in Gaza, targeting the crossing in a ground operation that resulted in its closure and the destruction of its buildings. On January 4, Israeli newspaper Haaretz reported that the Palestinian Authority would manage the Palestinian side of the crossing with assistance from a European Union force.
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