A high-ranking Palestinian source has confirmed that the United States, Egypt, the Palestinian Authority, and Israel are engaged in detailed and careful discussions regarding the management of Gaza’s crossings. The discussions are focusing on the possibility of an official Palestinian administration of the crossings, with the potential involvement of a third party, agreed upon by both Egyptian and Palestinian authorities.
The source informed the Arab World News Agency (AWP) that the discussions primarily revolve around the Karni and Rafah crossings in southern Gaza, as well as other crossings in the northern sector. The aim is to facilitate the entry of goods and humanitarian aid into the region, as well as the movement of individuals to and from it.
It was also noted that the detailed discussions are centered on reactivating the crossing agreement signed between the Palestinian Authority and Israel in 2005, which encompasses specific details regarding the functioning of the Gaza crossings. The crossings agreement was mediated by the United States and the European Union after Israel's withdrawal from Gaza in August of that year, intended to organize movement and access to the sector, enhance freedom of movement for Palestinians, facilitate trade, and develop the Palestinian economy.
The agreement includes several provisions, including that the Rafah crossing be managed by Palestinian and Egyptian authorities under the supervision of a third party, namely the European Union, with an American envoy monitoring the implementation. The Karni crossing is designated for the transport of goods from the West Bank and Israel to Gaza and vice versa.
Regarding the Rafah crossing, the source indicated that there are several proposals concerning its functioning that have not yet been agreed upon. However, he mentioned a Palestinian-Egyptian path emphasizing the necessity of the complete withdrawal of the Israeli army from the crossing and its surroundings, coupled with discussions with Hamas to ensure the operation of the crossing is not adversely affected.
He further stated that the reference agreement for the management of Rafah crossing would resemble the handover by the General Authority for Borders and Crossings at the end of 2017 during the reconciliation agreement with Hamas, when the Palestinian Authority resumed operations there.
Additionally, he highlighted that there is a U.S.-Egyptian-Palestinian understanding regarding the initial return of the Palestinian Authority to the Karni crossing from Gaza to oversee the entry of relief trucks and the exchange of goods to the sector, while a specific date for resuming operations at Rafah for individual movement has yet to be determined.
However, the Palestinian source linked the success of negotiations aimed at achieving a ceasefire in Gaza to the operation of Rafah crossing for individual movement, adding that the Salah al-Din gate for goods has been "temporarily" replaced by Karni crossing according to the U.S.-Egyptian-Palestinian understanding.
