Following the European Union’s announcement of its intention to resume its role as an observer at the Rafah Crossing, which separates Gaza from Egyptian territories, Fatah Movement affirmed today, Tuesday, its agreement to European oversight of the Palestinian-Egyptian Rafah Crossing management only.
Sabri Saydam, the Deputy Secretary-General of Fatah’s Central Committee, told “Al-Arabiya/Al-Hadath”: “We agree to European oversight of Rafah Crossing management under Palestinian-Egyptian authority only.”
He added, “The authority will agree to take over the Rafah Crossing within a comprehensive solution without any Israeli interventions.”
Netanyahu has explicitly stated that he will not return Rafah Crossing to the Palestinians, indicating that Israel wants to impose a fait accompli at the border crossing.
Furthermore, Saydam emphasized that Fatah Movement is determined to achieve Palestinian national consensus.
Earlier today, a high-level source revealed that Egypt has reiterated its stance of dealing with the Rafah Crossing only with Palestinian and international parties, stressing that Egypt will not coordinate with the Israeli side at the crossing.
Sources from Al-Arabiya/Al-Hadath reported that Egypt is preparing proposals regarding Rafah Crossing management that exclude any Israeli presence.
Activation of Rafah Crossing:
This comes as several parties, including the United States and the European Union, continue intensive efforts to reactivate the Rafah land crossing, which the Israeli forces controlled the Palestinian side of, after launching a ground operation in the eastern city of Rafah recently.
The European Union explicitly announced on Monday its intention to resume its role as an observer at the Rafah Crossing, which separates Gaza from Egyptian territories, under the crossings agreement that was approved following the Israeli army’s withdrawal from Gaza in 2005.
Meanwhile, the United States, Egypt, and the Palestinian Authority have led discussions on Palestinian crossings connecting Gaza to the outside world with the aim of facilitating the entry of goods and humanitarian aid into the Strip, according to the Arab World News Agency.
Sources reported today, Tuesday, that international efforts to manage the crossings, including Rafah, are currently facing Israeli obstacles.
Israel Rejects Authority’s Return:
According to one source from the Arab World News Agency, “Israel rejects the return of the Palestinian Authority to assume its role at Rafah Crossing, a role it had before Hamas took control of Gaza in 2007 and the EU mission withdrew from there following that control.”
The source emphasized that there is international will towards the Palestinian Authority taking over its work at the crossing.
