Egypt, Israel and the U.S. have reportedly agreed to a cease-fire in southern Gaza starting at 0600 GMT coinciding with the reopening of the Rafah border crossing.
Two Egyptian safety sources claimed Monday that the cease-fire would final for a number of hours however they weren’t clear on the precise period.
They additionally stated the three nations had agreed that Rafah can be open till 1400 GMT on Monday as a one-day preliminary reopening.
Rafah, which is on the border between Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula and Hamas-governed Gaza, is the one crossing into the territory not managed by Israel.
A safety supply and nongovernmental group (NGO) supply in al-Arish stated that help vehicles had been nonetheless ready there after 0600 GMT. Reuters photos confirmed the vehicles awaiting permission to make the journey to Rafah, which might take a number of hours.
Egypt has stated that the crossing remained open from the Egyptian facet in current days, however was rendered inoperable on account of Israeli bombardments on the Palestinian facet.
The help that had come from a number of nations and organizations has been stalled in al-Arish awaiting an settlement on the supply of help and evacuation of overseas nationals from Gaza, which U.S. Secretary of State Blinken stated had been achieved after a go to to Cairo.
However, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s workplace Monday denied experiences of the cease-fire in Gaza.
“There is currently no cease-fire and humanitarian aid in Gaza in return for removing foreigners,” a press release from Netanyahu’s workplace stated.
Salama Marouf, head of the Hamas authorities media workplace, additionally stated they’ve acquired no affirmation from the Egyptian facet about intentions to open the crossing.
“We have not received any communication or confirmation from the Egyptian side regarding the intention to open the Rafah border today. Everything being circulated, especially in Israeli media, is unsubstantiated,” Marouf stated.
The U.S. embassy in Israel stated the scenario at Rafah can be “fluid and unpredictable and it is unclear whether, or for how long, travelers will be permitted to transit the crossing.”
It stated residents who felt protected sufficient to take action might transfer towards the crossing.
Source: www.dailysabah.com