Falcon powers – According to Israel’s Channel 11, quoting an informed Egyptian source, the recent US hardline stance against Israel regarding Rafah in southern Gaza and the delay of weapon shipments is partially linked to Egypt’s protest to the United States regarding Israel’s behavior in recent days concerning the military operation in the southern sector and control of the Rafah crossing.
The Egyptian source held Washington responsible for the consequences of Israeli actions and conveyed to the Americans, “You must find a solution because what happened in Rafah undermines Egypt’s mediation efforts to reach an agreement and has negative consequences on Egyptian national security and internal unrest.”
The Egyptian source considered that despite Israeli statements that the Rafah operation is limited, Egyptians do not have genuine assurance that it will not expand, and they hope that the US position will persuade Israel to reconsider.
Egypt informed Israel, according to Hebrew channel sources, that it will halt the operation of all trucks designated for delivering humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip until Israel sets a date for reopening the Rafah crossing.
Meanwhile, the Israeli War Cabinet (War Cabinet) discussed the developments regarding Rafah and the threats from US President Joe Biden on the evening of yesterday.
Israel has initiated strategic discussions on the issue of the “day after” the war, and official bodies have reviewed the future implications of Israeli actions post-Rafah operation. A political source, unnamed by the channel, stated, “The operation in Rafah necessitates strategic decisions regarding the way forward, not only regarding who will control the Rafah crossing but also whether Israel will enhance the role of local entities (in Gaza) or impose military rule.
” No decisions were issued in the session, and another meeting is expected to be held later today.
Israeli officials rule out the presence of four Hamas battalions in Rafah
Meanwhile, Israeli officials ruled out the presence of four Hamas battalions in Rafah, in the far south of the Gaza Strip near the Egyptian border, contrary to the claims of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who depicted the invasion of Rafah as a significant turning point in eliminating Hamas and achieving “absolute victory.” The Hebrew newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth reported today that despite Netanyahu’s claim of four Hamas battalions in Rafah and that it is the movement’s last stronghold and military action must be taken there, his statements are at least inaccurate.
