US, Israel, and Palestinian Authority Hold Secret Talks on Gaza War
by Karen Faulkner, Worthy News Correspondent
(Worthy News) – Senior representatives from the US, Israel, and the Palestinian Authority met in Tel Aviv last week for secret talks on reopening the Rafah crossing between Egypt and Gaza as part of a hostage and ceasefire deal, the Axios news outlet reports exclusively.
Several Israeli and American officials told Axios on condition of anonymity that, in the first meeting between Israel, the US, and the PA since the Oct. 7 massacre, the delegates discussed issues surrounding the day after the war in Gaza ends.
“Reopening the strategic Rafah crossing would be crucial for implementing the first phase of a hostage and ceasefire deal, which includes the transfer of wounded Hamas members to Egypt for medical treatment,” Axios explained in its report. “This would only be possible through Rafah.”
“US officials say reopening the Rafah crossing could be a first step in a wider post-war strategy for the stabilization and reconstruction of Gaza,” Axios noted.
According to the Axios sources, Israel objects to any official involvement of the PA in managing the Rafah crossing. However, Axios said: “At the same time, the Israelis pressed Abbas’ senior aides to agree to send their people to the crossing in an unofficial capacity, the sources said. The Palestinian side rejected that proposal.”
The officials present at the meeting included President Biden’s top Middle East Adviser, Brett McGurk; the director of the Israeli Shin Bet security agency, Ronen Bar; and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas’ top deputies — Minister Hussein al-Sheikh and director of intelligence Majed Faraj, Axios said.
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