Egyptian-American-Israeli arrangements are in place to begin reopening the Rafah crossing, amid US discussions of moving to a new phase that includes disarming Hamas.
This coincides with other transitional political, security, and administrative arrangements in the Gaza Strip.
The Israeli Broadcasting Corporation reported US sources as saying that the mechanism for operating the Rafah crossing “has been decided between the US, Israel, Egypt and the Palestinian side,” and that it will be opened this week.
Various executive bodies in North Sinai are preparing to open Rafah crossing in both directions, facilitating the movement of Palestinians between Egypt and Gaza.
In addition, US envoy Steve Wittkopf explained that the return of the remains of the last Israeli captive from Gaza paves the way for a new future of peace, not war, describing it as a great historical achievement that many did not expect.
In an interview with the Axios news website on Tuesday, US President Donald Trump said that Hamas had helped locate the remains of the last Israeli hostage, and called on the movement to fulfill its commitment to disarm.
An American official explained that the US believes some form of amnesty for the movement would accompany Hamas’s disarmament.
The official added that there is “confidence among US officials that Hamas will lay down its arms, and that many of its members are already talking about it.”
Sources told Reuters that the Gaza government is seeking to integrate approximately 10,000 members of its police force into the US-backed National Committee for the Administration of the Gaza Strip.
Hamas pledges ‘full commitment’
Hamas spokesperson Hazem Qassem said that the return of the final Israeli hostage’s body confirms the movement’s “full commitment to all the requirements of the ceasefire agreement.”
He told Reuters that Hamas is ready to hand over governance immediately to the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza.
Sources reported that Hamas recently agreed to discuss the issue of disarmament with other Palestinian factions and mediators.
However, according to Reuters, officials in the movement confirmed that Washington and the mediators have not yet provided any details or written agreements on the matter, including the issue of amnesty or safe passage out of Gaza.
