Israel's Netanyahu vows to maintain control of Rafah crossing despite talks

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu made a surprise visit to Gaza's Rafah on Thursday, pledging to uphold Israeli control over the Rafah crossing and the entire Gaza-Egypt border, even if a ceasefire-hostage agreement is reached.

Netanyahu received briefings from commanders in Rafah, which Israeli ground forces seized in early May, and observed the "Philadelphia Corridor," the border area between Gaza and Egypt.

"I got here stronger in the understanding that our control of the Philadelphia Corridor and the Rafah crossing is essential for the future," Netanyahu said in a video statement, surrounded by soldiers.

He noted that next week he will travel to Washington to address the U.S. Congress, adding that he will put forward the "righteousness" of the controversial ongoing Israeli onslaught in Gaza.

Netanyahu made the statement as an Israeli delegation was in Cairo for more talks on a ceasefire-hostage agreement. Control over the Rafah crossing and "the Philadelphia Corridor" is a major sticking point in the talks. Israeli officials, including Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, have said that Israel would agree to withdraw from the area under a deal that would secure the release of about 120 hostages still held in Gaza.

Saudi Arabia and Jordan condemned on Thursday Israel's far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir's visit to the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in East Jerusalem, and the Israeli parliament's approval of a proposal rejecting the establishment of a Palestinian state.

Israel's "continued hostile practices" against the Islamic holy sites, as well as international resolutions and laws, reflect its "aggressive approach," Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement.

It highlighted that such practices "hinder any progress aimed at saving innocent blood and achieving a just and comprehensive peace."

According to a statement by Jordan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, spokesperson Sufian Qudah said the decisions and actions issued by Israel do not change the reality of its occupation of Palestinian territories, nor do they affect the continued applicability of the Fourth Geneva Convention of 1949, related to the protection of civilians in times of war.

Qudah stressed that Israel's ongoing efforts to deny the inalienable right of Palestinians to their independent and sovereign state do not bring security and peace to the region. He called on the international community to stop Israel's actions, as well as its continued offensive in the Gaza Strip, the statement said.

Ben-Gvir visited the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound Thursday morning to warn against a possible deal with the Palestinian factions in Gaza and call for more military pressure.

Late on Wednesday, Israel's parliament, or the Knesset, overwhelmingly passed a resolution that completely rejects the establishment of a Palestinian state, even as part of a negotiated settlement with Israel.

Humanitarian challenges

Workers delivering relief to northern Gaza, in addition to everyday Gaza challenges, must now coordinate with Israeli authorities before passing through a military checkpoint, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said on Thursday.

The OCHA said the routine challenges of working in an active conflict include access constraints, fuel restrictions, an ongoing power blackout, and the lack of public order and safety.

"During the first 16 days of July, our colleagues coordinated 60 humanitarian missions into the north," the OCHA said. "Only 24 were facilitated, while 12 were denied access by the Israeli authorities and 20 others were impeded by Israeli troops on the ground. The remaining four missions were canceled by humanitarian organizations due to logistical, operational or security reasons."

The OCHA said the restrictions prevent aid organizations from gaining regular access to the north, where hundreds of thousands of people need humanitarian assistance. It also makes it impossible for humanitarian workers to manage the flow of supplies into Gaza via the Erez West crossing.

The OCHA said the UN relief agency for Palestinians, known as UNRWA, has reported limited access to hygiene products and clean water and increasing rashes and skin diseases across the Gaza Strip. Their teams are providing medication, but the agency warned that without improved conditions, the infections will invariably return.

The agency said just 10 of its 26 health centers in Gaza are still operational, although UNRWA's teams continue risking their lives to provide medical care to needy families.

"We also have an update on the West Bank," the OCHA said. "More than 750 Palestinians have been displaced since the beginning of the year across the West Bank after the Israeli authorities demolished or forced the demolition of their homes due to lack of building permits."

The office added that more than 600 homes and other structures were demolished during that period. Authorities rarely grant permits to Palestinians in what is known as Area C and in East Jerusalem.

(With input from agencies)