"Preliminary Agreement" Between Egypt and Israel on Opening Rafah Crossing

The Israeli broadcasting authority revealed today, Thursday, citing sources, that there is a preliminary agreement between Egypt and Israel to open the Rafah crossing to allow humanitarian aid into Gaza. The Egyptian authorities had previously refused to reopen their borders with Gaza after Israeli forces took control of the Palestinian side of the Rafah crossing. An Egyptian official stated earlier: "As long as Israeli forces remain at the Rafah crossing, Egypt will not send a single truck to Rafah." According to Israeli Channel 12, Israeli National Security Advisor Tzachi Hanegbi indicated that "the current government will not make a decision to halt the war in exchange for the return of all hostages." The Israeli National Security Advisor added: "I do not believe this government will succeed in completing the entire exchange deal." He emphasized that "the humanitarian part of the agreement will be finalized within a few months."