Palestine rejects proposal to reopen Rafah crossing without Israeli withdrawal

Palestine has rejected an Israeli-U.S. proposal to temporarily reopen the Rafah border crossing, calling instead for an Israeli withdrawal and the establishment of Palestinian sovereignty, Xinhua reported on Wednesday, citing an official source.

A meeting was held last week involving representatives from Palestine, the United States and Israel to explore the possibility of opening the Rafah border crossing between Egypt and the Gaza Strip, according to the source who requested anonymity.

The Israeli side proposed that six Palestinian employees participate in managing the crossing without uniforms or police, and without raising the Palestinian flag, said the source in a statement sent to Xinhua.

The source explained that the proposal was rejected because it aimed to open the crossing temporarily without Palestinian sovereignty, which contradicts the Palestinian position and international agreements.

According to the source, the Palestinian stance is in line with the 2005 agreement on the Rafah crossing, which requires Palestinian sovereignty, European participation, and a full Israeli withdrawal from the crossing.

The meeting concluded after the Israeli-U.S. proposal was rejected by the Palestinians, and there has been no further dialogue following the meeting, said the source.

The meeting is considered the first between Israel and representatives of the Palestinian Authority to discuss the future of Gaza after the ongoing conflict.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Wednesday urged a renewed emphasis on a political resolution to the crisis in Gaza.

"We must refocus on finding a political solution that will end the occupation and resolve the conflict in line with international law, and relevant United Nations resolutions," Courtenay Rattray, chef de cabinet of the UN secretary-general, told the Security Council during a debate on Gaza, on behalf of the UN chief.

Rattray highlighted the severe circumstances in Gaza, characterized by the ongoing conflict and lawlessness, and raised concerns about escalating regional instability and the crisis in Gaza.

Rattray provided a somber update on the situation, stating, "In recent weeks, Israeli military operations and fighting intensified across Gaza. Rockets continue to be launched by Palestinian armed groups from Gaza towards Israeli population centers."

"Rafah is in ruins, and the Rafah crossing remains closed, further hampering humanitarian operations," he added.

Rattray stressed the importance of immediate action to address these crises, stating, "We must change course. All settlement activity must cease immediately."

"Israeli settlements are a flagrant violation of international law and a key obstacle to peace." He called for the restoration of governance in Gaza under a legitimate Palestinian government and the strengthening of the Palestinian Authority to lead recovery efforts.

Meanwhile, the Israeli military stopped all aid missions to the north of Wadi Gaza, blocking hundreds of thousands of Gazans from receiving relief deliveries, UN humanitarians said on Wednesday.

The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said this means humanitarian workers could not collect supplies from the northern entry point of Erez West. It also received multiple reports of military activity along the Israeli military road that separates north and south Gaza.

OCHA said it observed more displaced people crossing from Gaza City into Deir al-Balah Governorate, with at least 450 people making the trip on Wednesday, compared to just over 1,000 for all of last week.

'Going too far'

Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah said on Wednesday that Lebanon's war with Israel will not stop as long as the offensive against Gaza continues.

In a televised speech marking the Islamic holy day of Ashura, Nasrallah warned Israel against "going too far" in targeting civilians in southern Lebanon, saying it will push its group "to launch missiles and target new settlements that were not previously targeted."

He denied rumors about an agreement reached regarding the Lebanese front, stressing that, "The future of the situation in the south will be decided in light of the results of the battle" in Gaza.

"If the war stops, the party responsible for negotiating is the Lebanese state," said Nasrallah.

In addition, Nasrallah accused America of "bearing full responsibility" for the killing of Palestinian civilians by the Israeli army because it supplied weapons.

Lebanese Foreign Affairs Minister Abdallah Bou Habib on Wednesday warned against "Israel's intention" to escalate war with Lebanon, adding that any miscalculations would drag the entire region into the abyss, the National News Agency reported.

During a meeting at the UN Security Council in New York, Bou Habib said that if a bigger war occurs, it would shake the entire Middle East and lead to a new displacement crisis in Europe, with people from countries across the region fleeing missiles, drones and warplanes.

He called on Israel to cease its land, sea and air violations of Lebanon's sovereignty, which have "exceeded 35,000 violations since 2006."

Bou Habib also called for an end to cyber attacks that threaten Lebanon's security and safety networks, devices, applications and electronic data in vital facilities, especially the Beirut airport.

(With input from agencies)