The "Times of Israel" reported today that senior security officials requested an assessment of the cost of establishing an Israeli military government in the Gaza Strip following the war with Hamas, with evaluations suggesting the cost would reach 20 billion shekels annually. The newspaper referenced an official report stating that in addition to the costs of establishing a military government, Israel would also need to cover yet-to-be-determined expenses for rebuilding the infrastructure in the sector.
The report also indicated that approximately 400 personnel would be required to operate the military government, alongside the continued presence of five Israeli army battalions in Gaza, which would necessitate a reduction of Israeli troops on the northern front and in the West Bank.
Egyptian sources quoted by media outlets have stated that Cairo rejects Israeli proposals for coordination regarding the management of the border crossing. Since the closure of the crossing, no aid has entered Gaza through it.
On Thursday evening, the Israeli site "Walla" reported that Israel proposed to Egypt a plan to reopen the Rafah crossing with the participation of Palestinian representatives from Gaza and other international entities. The proposal includes sending Egypt a list of Palestinian candidates for managing the crossing, with Israel retaining the right to object to any of them.
According to "Walla," the proposal outlines the operation of the Rafah crossing for individuals and fuel, and includes an Israeli presence outside the Rafah crossing to protect it from Hamas attacks and to prevent unauthorized individuals from traveling through the crossing.
Earlier, Israeli media stated that the Israeli army had sent an additional brigade to Rafah in southern Gaza to join the 162nd division, which has been conducting operations in the eastern part of the city since the beginning of the month. The newspaper noted that this move comes at a time when the Israeli government is expected to approve the expansion of military operations in Rafah.
