Israeli, Palestinian officials reportedly plan post-war Gaza as Netanyahu vows Rafah military campaign

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced on Tuesday that Israel would continue its military campaign in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip, despite mounting international pressure, while the Israeli state media reported that Israel's top security advisor and the Palestinian intelligence chief met to discuss the Palestinian Authority (PA)'s potential role in Gaza's post-war management.

Netanyahu's comments came as European Union (EU) leaders urge Israel to abstain from initiating a ground operation in Rafah, as outlined in draft conclusions for an upcoming summit.

"The European Council urges the Israeli government to refrain from a ground operation in Rafah, where well over a million Palestinians are currently seeking safety from the fighting and access to humanitarian assistance," Reuters reported, citing a draft text of conclusions of a summit. 

The text will require the approval of all the EU's 27 national leaders to be adopted at the summit on March 21 and 22.

According to Israel's state-owned Kan TV news, Netanyahu approved the meeting between the Head of the National Security Council Tzachi Hanegbi and Majed Faraj, head of the PA's General Intelligence Service.

The Israeli Prime Minister's office did not immediately comment on the report.

United States officials have suggested that the PA might take charge of rebuilding the Gaza Strip and governing the coastal enclave, which has been devastated by five-month massive Israeli attacks. However, Netanyahu has expressed opposition to either the PA or Hamas governing the Strip after the conflict, insisting that Israel will retain security control over Gaza.

The Palestinian death toll due to the ongoing Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip has climbed to 31,184, reported the Gaza-based Palestinian Health Ministry on Tuesday.

Within the past 24 hours, the Israeli army killed 72 Palestinians and injured 129 others, pushing the total death toll to 31,184 and injuries to 72,889 since the start of the conflict on October 7, 2023, the ministry said in a statement.

'Amalthea' joint aid project

The long-expected aid vessel heading for Gaza via the Cyprus-based corridor sent out the first consignment on Tuesday morning. It was part of a joint aid project known as "Amalthea."

Though the Cyprus-proposed aid project has been endorsed by the EU and several European countries, as well as the U.S., security concerns from the Israeli side and the lack of proper jetties on the Gaza coast means it still takes time for the materials to reach the needy in the enclave.

"The journey of hope and humanity has just started," Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides said in a statement after a ship owned by Spanish non-governmental organization (NGO) Open Arms left the Larnaca port in southern Cyprus, towing a barge loaded with food, water and pharmaceuticals. He said more aid is expected to be shipped soon.

Local media said that due to the low towing speed of the barge, the 400-kilometer journey to Gaza is anticipated to take two days, contrasting with the usual 15-hour duration.

According to Cypriot media reports, upon arrival in Gaza, the aid will be received by activists from the NGO World Central Kitchen (WCK), which will help distribute it to the local population facing dire food shortages.

WCK revealed plans to create a maritime route for ongoing aid deliveries to Gaza, with an additional 500 tonnes of aid already prepared in Cyprus for shipment.

More conflict 

Israeli warplanes launched strikes deep into Lebanon on Tuesday, for the second day in a row, targeting a Hezbollah facility in the Bekaa Valley, Reuters reported. 

Two Hezbollah members from the Bekaa Valley were killed, the Iran-backed group said in a statement late on Tuesday.

The Israeli military said its fighter jets had "struck two Hezbollah military command centers" in the Baalbek area in response to Hezbollah rocket launches towards northern Israel earlier in the day, according to the Reuters report. 

In a statement, Hezbollah claimed responsibility for firing over 100 Katyusha rockets at 7 a.m. (0500 GMT), aiming at multiple Israeli military posts, as a response for Israeli shelling of the Bekaa Valley region on Monday night.

The Jordanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates on Tuesday condemned Israel for killing two Jordanian citizens in the Palestinian city of Tulkarm in the West Bank. Spokesperson of the ministry Sufian Qudah said the ministry urged Israel to conduct a full investigation and to bear its responsibilities by uncovering the circumstances of the incident.

The ministry will take all necessary diplomatic measures in accordance with relevant laws, agreements and international norms, he said.

(With input from agencies)