The new obstacle in negotiations with Hamas – Israeli initiative to establish ‘humanitarian city’ in Rafah
Palestinian sources involved in the negotiations for a deal with Hamas told Kan News that Israel’s initiative to establish the “humanitarian city” in Rafah has become an obstacle in the negotiation rooms taking place in Qatar — as was first reported today (Tuesday) on the program “Binyamini and Guetta” on Kan Reshet Bet.
According to the sources, this issue is “stalling” progress in the talks, and Hamas strongly opposes it.
Yesterday, Defense Minister Israel Katz revealed that Israel is preparing to establish the compound on the ruins of the city of Rafah, between the Morag Corridor and the Philadelphi Corridor, with the aim of separating the Palestinian population from Hamas militants operating among them. At least in the initial stage, the intention is to start reducing the population from the humanitarian area in Al-Mawasi.
According to the plan, which is being overseen by Defense Ministry Director General Amir Baram, the new city to be built will house approximately 600,000 Palestinians who will undergo screening before entering the compound. Once inside, people will not be allowed to leave. Subsequently, according to the plan, the entire population of the Gaza Strip would be transferred into the new city.
The Palestinian sources added, however, that there has been progress in understanding on some issues between the sides, one of which is the issue of distributing humanitarian aid. As is known, Hamas has demanded to return the humanitarian aid mechanism to the previous model in which the aid was distributed through the UN, while Israel insists that the new distribution mechanism via the American aid fund should continue as it is conducted today.
Elior Levy is a Palestinian and Arab affairs correspondent for KAN 11 News.
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