'Israel' set to occupy Rafah crossing, control aid of 1.4mln people

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Axios
7 May 2024 05:03
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Axios reports that the Israeli occupation wants to impose aid-distribution network operated by anti-Resistance groups.

Israeli occupation forces fire flares over eastern Rafah during the invasion of the city on Tuesday, May 7, 2024. (Social media)

Israeli occupation forces are set to occupy the Rafah crossing with Egypt from the Palestinian side in the coming hours during the invasion of the city, Axios reported on Tuesday, citing sources.

Late Monday, the Israeli war cabinet decided unanimously to proceed with the invasion of the small city with a population of over 1.4 million people, a few hours after the Resistance group Hamas informed mediators that it had agreed on a proposed ceasefire agreement.

Shortly after, occupation forces started advancing into the eastern part of Rafah supported by intense carpet bombing.

The World Food Program (WFP) sounded the alarm last week about Palestinians in the northern Gaza Strip experiencing "full-blown famine," warning that it is "moving north."

The Rafah and Karem Abu Salem crossings are the only routes to deliver aid to southern Gaza, the latter being under the full physical control of the occupation forces, while the former, despite its entry being under Egyptian authority, remains subject to Israeli approval or rejection by force of strikes and shelling.

The source told Axios that Israelis believe that capturing the Rafah crossing will pressure the Resistance, Hamas, by putting the occupation in direct control of the aid entering densely-populated southern Gaza.

They added that "Israel" aims to impose a new aid-distribution network comprised of anti-Resistance groups not affiliated with the Resistance group, without mentioning how the occupation plans to achieve this objective.

'Not in good faith'

Washington has repeatedly warned that it opposes an attack on Rafah, citing fears of high civilian casualties as pressure grows on US President Joe Biden inside the United States, especially amid ongoing university protests, as elections draw closer.

This also comes as the Palestinian Health Ministry in Gaza announced today that the number of Palestinians killed in Gaza due to the Israeli genocidal war ongoing in 213 days has now reached 34,735 and those injured 78,108.

Commenting on Hamas' approval of a deal, Channel 12 quoted Israeli officials as saying that "Israel" is now carefully evaluating the Hamas response and will issue orderly comments later this evening, claiming that “this is not the same proposal” for a deal that "Israel" and Egypt agreed upon 10 days ago, which should have served as the basis for the indirect negotiations since then.

“All kinds of clauses” have been inserted, the outlet report said. These new clauses, among other issues, relate to the cardinal questions of if, how, and when the war would end, and what kind of guarantees are being offered to that effect.

Meanwhile, in response to Netanyahu's claims, Reuters cited a US official familiar with the negotiations as saying, "Netanyahu and the war cabinet have not appeared to approach the latest phase of negotiations [with Hamas] in good faith."