U.S. presidential envoys Steve Witkof and Jared Kushner are scheduled to meet in Israel with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, where the main focus will be the opening of the Rafah border crossing with Egypt and the launch of Gaza’s reconstruction, as part of the second phase of the agreement.
Israeli media KAN reports that the Commander of U.S. Central Command, Admiral Brad Cooper, may also attend the meeting.
However, it remains unclear whether the Rafah crossing will open, as Hamas has yet to return the body of the last captive still in Gaza.
Reuters reports that Israel seeks to limit the number of Palestinians returning to Gaza through Rafah, ensuring that the number leaving exceeds those entering.
Additionally, sources cited by Reuters indicate that Israel plans to establish a military checkpoint inside the Gaza Strip, near the border, where all Palestinians entering or leaving would undergo Israeli security inspections.
Rafah is the only entry and exit point for over 2 million residents of Gaza, making this issue highly sensitive and critical for the humanitarian situation.
