Palestine Rejects Rafah Crossing Proposal Without Israeli Withdrawal

Palestine has rejected a joint Israeli-U.S. proposal to reopen the Rafah crossing without Israeli withdrawal, insisting on sovereignty per international agreements.

CONTENTS: Palestine Rejects Rafah Crossing Proposal

• Palestine rejects non-sovereign Rafah proposal
• UN stresses urgent Gaza humanitarian action
• Hezbollah warns Israel amid tensions

Palestine rejects non-sovereign Rafah proposal

Palestine Rejects Rafah Crossing Proposal

Palestine has declined a joint Israeli-U.S. proposal to temporarily reopen the Rafah border crossing, preferring instead an Israeli withdrawal and the establishment of Palestinian sovereignty over the crossing. The proposal, discussed in a recent meeting involving representatives from Palestine, the United States, and Israel, suggested limited Palestinian involvement in managing the crossing without uniforms, police, or raising the Palestinian flag. This offer was rejected because it did not include Palestinian sovereignty, which Palestinians assert is required by international agreements and the 2005 agreement specifically governing the Rafah crossing.

Following the rejection of the Israeli-U.S. proposal by the Palestinians, the recent meeting concluded without further dialogue. This meeting marked the first direct talks between Israel and representatives of the Palestinian Authority regarding the future of Gaza amid ongoing conflict. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres emphasized on Wednesday the need for renewed efforts towards a political resolution to the crisis in Gaza.

UN stresses urgent Gaza humanitarian action

Palestine Rejects Rafah Crossing Proposal: Courtenay Rattray, speaking on behalf of the UN secretary-general during a Security Council debate on Gaza, stressed the urgent need to prioritize a political solution that aligns with international law and relevant UN resolutions.

He highlighted the dire situation in Gaza, marked by ongoing conflict, lawlessness, and escalating regional instability. Rattray expressed concern over recent intensifications in Israeli military operations in Gaza and continued rocket launches from Palestinian armed groups towards Israeli population centers. He also lamented the destruction in Rafah and the ongoing closure of the Rafah crossing, which is compounding humanitarian challenges in the region.

Courtenay Rattray emphasized the urgent need for immediate action to address the crises in Gaza, calling for an immediate cessation of all Israeli settlement activity, which he condemned as a clear violation of international law and a significant barrier to peace. He advocated for the reinstatement of governance in Gaza under a legitimate Palestinian authority and urged support to strengthen the Palestinian Authority’s capacity to lead recovery efforts.

Meanwhile, UN humanitarian officials reported that the Israeli military had halted all aid missions to northern Wadi Gaza, preventing hundreds of thousands of Gazans from receiving essential relief supplies. The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) noted that humanitarian workers were unable to access supplies from the northern entry point of Erez West due to military actions along the Israeli military road dividing north and south Gaza. OCHA also observed an increase in displaced people moving from Gaza City to Deir al-Balah Governorate, with approximately 450 individuals making this journey on Wednesday alone, compared to just over 1,000 for the entire previous week.

Hezbollah warns Israel amid tensions

Palestine Rejects Rafah Crossing Proposal: Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah declared on Wednesday that Lebanon would not cease its conflict with Israel as long as Israel continues its offensive against Gaza. In a televised address marking the Islamic holy day of Ashura, Nasrallah cautioned Israel against targeting civilians in southern Lebanon, warning that such actions could prompt Hezbollah to launch missiles at new Israeli settlements.

Nasrallah dismissed rumors of any agreements regarding Lebanon’s front with Israel, emphasizing that developments in southern Lebanon would hinge on outcomes from the Gaza conflict. He asserted that any cessation of hostilities would require negotiations led by the Lebanese state.

Furthermore, Nasrallah placed blame on the United States for the killing of Palestinian civilians by the Israeli military, accusing it of full responsibility due to its provision of weapons to Israel.

Meanwhile, Lebanese Foreign Affairs Minister Abdallah Bou Habib expressed concerns about Israel’s purported intentions to escalate the conflict with Lebanon. He cautioned that any missteps could engulf the entire region, potentially triggering a new displacement crisis affecting countries across the Middle East and Europe, with populations fleeing from missile strikes, drones, and airstrikes.

Bou Habib conveyed these warnings during a meeting at the UN Security Council in New York. Abdallah Bou Habib called on Israel to halt its continuous violations of Lebanon’s sovereignty, which he stated have surpassed 35,000 incidents since 2006. He also urged an end to cyber attacks targeting Lebanon’s critical infrastructure, including the Beirut airport, which threaten the country’s security and operational safety.