US ‘imposed’ reopening of Gaza crossing on Israel – report

With Israel’s security cabinet poised to authorize reopening of Rafah crossing, officials say the decision was “imposed” by the US on Israel, which was blindsided by announcement at Board of Peace inauguration.

By World Israel News Staff

Israel is being effectively forced to reopen a key crossing point in southern Gaza to both incoming and outgoing traffic, two separate sources claim, stating that the decision was “imposed” on Israel by the US and Arab mediators.

A report published by The Times of Israel on Friday cited a US official and an Arab diplomat who said the reopening of the Rafah crossing on the border between the Gaza Strip and Egypt, which is expected to take place later this week, was decided upon by the US, Egypt, Qatar, and Turkey, without consulting beforehand with Israel.

The four powers reportedly had come to the conclusion that Israel would not agree to reopen the crossing and decided to “impose” the opening.

On Thursday, Ali Shaath, a former Palestinian Authority official tapped to head the new 12-member Palestinian technocratic committee administering the Gaza Strip, said in a video message to the inaugural meeting of the Board of Peace that the Rafah crossing would be opened in a matter of days.

That statement, which reportedly surprised Israel’s government, was issued in coordination with the US, Qatar, Turkey, and Egypt, the Arab diplomat claimed.

However, the US official cited in the report said that Trump and his staff had already spoken with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during a meeting last month in Florida regarding demands that Israel open the Rafah crossing.

The Trump administration reportedly explicitly told Netanyahu that Rafah must be opened in the near future, with Netanyahu agreeing to the demand.

Nevertheless, Israel has yet to address the issue publicly.

Israeli media reports have cited an unnamed official who said the security cabinet will convene on Sunday to discuss the possible reopening of the Rafah crossing.

According to a report by Israel’s public broadcaster, KAN, Israel will indeed reopen the Rafah crossing, but is preparing a string of security mechanisms for incoming traffic, which will be remotely surveilled by IDF forces, keeping the border under Israeli control.

On Friday, three sources told Reuters that Israel is also examining methods for restricting incoming traffic.