Rafah border crossing to be managed by private contractor: Haaretz

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Israeli Media + Al Mayadeen
8 May 2024 13:50
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A new report by the Israeli newspaper Haaretz underscored a plot to take the Rafah border crossing away from Palestinian control in favor of giving it to a US security private contractor that would do "Israel's" bidding.

This photo shows a tank with an Israeli occupation flag on it entering the Gazan side of the Rafah border crossing in occupied Palestine, on Tuesday, May 7, 2024. (AP)

In an exclusive for Israeli newspaper Haaretz, "Israel" has made a plea to the US regarding the takeover of the Rafah border crossing, saying it would be passed on to a private security contracting company.

This was offered up after "Israel" committed to "restrict its operation in Rafah", which started on Monday, "aiming only to deny Hamas authority over the border crossing that connects Gaza with Egypt, and concentrating on the eastern side of the city."

According to Haaretz, the Israeli occupation government, in order to secure the deal, has been negotiating with "a private company in the US that specializes in assisting armies and governments around the world engaged in military conflicts. The company has operated in several African and Middle Eastern countries, guarding strategic sites like oil fields, airports, army bases, and sensitive border crossings. It employs veterans of elite US Army units."

Allegedly, Tel Aviv also pledged "not to damage the crossing's facilities to ensure its continuous operation," alleging that the "private American security company will assume management of the crossing after the IDF [Israeli occupation forces] concludes its operation."

In turn, State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller, earlier claimed he had no information about such a plot to assume control over the Rafah border crossing.

In that regard, Haaretz also reported that Egyptian officials expressed opposition to an assault on Rafah because they were concerned that civilians might attempt to cross the border fence seeking shelter. Allegedly, they also warned that Hamas might try to breach the fence to assist Gazans in fleeing.

Under the agreed terms between the three parties, once "Israel" finishes its 'limited operation' in the border crossing area, a US company will take over the operation of the facility. This responsibility includes overseeing goods entering Gaza from Egypt and preventing Hamas from regaining control of the crossing. "Israel" and the US will provide support to the company as needed.

Rafah has a long history of confrontations with "Israel", yet each time, Israeli occupation forces are met with the unwavering resilience of the #Palestinian people. pic.twitter.com/rW7l3ugC7N
— Al Mayadeen English (@MayadeenEnglish) May 7, 2024

The Israeli newspaper also claimed that Cairo complained against "Israel" on Tuesday after Israeli occupation troops shared videos showing the Israeli occupation flag being flown at the Rafah crossing. The Egyptians argued, allegedly, that such a public display undermined their efforts to diminish tensions in the area near their territory.

Rafah crossing purely Egyptian-Palestinian: Senior Hamas official

Senior Hamas official Osama Hamdan made it clear on Tuesday that "the military operation in Rafah, if carried out by Israel, will not be a picnic" for the Israeli occupation forces, which were defeated and humiliated in all the areas they have entered in the Gaza Strip.

Speaking during a press conference in the Lebanese capital Beirut on Hamas' acceptance of the ceasefire proposal presented by mediators Egypt and Qatar, Hamdan pointed out that the decision came as a result of long, difficult, complicated, and continuous negotiations over the past weeks and months.

He mentioned that the past period saw several proposals that did not meet the conditions of the Resistance or the demands of the Palestinian people, affirming that Hamas "adhered to its demands, showed flexibility where necessary, and set red lines that cannot be crossed or compromised."

Hamdan stressed that Hamas' acceptance of the ceasefire proposal stems from the movement's responsibility before the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip and its deep concern for its interests, rights, constants, and sacrifices, and from a positive response to the role of mediators in achieving this deal.