Axios Claims: Secret Meeting Held Between Israeli Officials, Palestinian Authority, and the U.S.

Axios news site reported that officials from Israel, the Palestinian Authority, and the United States held a secret meeting last week to discuss the reopening of the Rafah crossing between Egypt and Gaza as part of a hostage exchange agreement and ceasefire negotiations. According to Axios, this is the first such trilateral meeting since October 7, as the government of Benjamin Netanyahu has a 'special sensitivity' regarding cooperation with the Palestinian Authority. The meeting took place in Tel Aviv and included Brett McGurk, the U.S. envoy to the Middle East, Ronen Bar, head of Shin Bet, and senior advisors to Mahmoud Abbas, the president of the Palestinian Authority, including Hussein al-Sheikh and Majed Faraj, head of intelligence for the Authority. Three Israeli and American officials told Axios that in this meeting, the Israelis emphasized that Netanyahu opposes direct involvement of the Palestinian Authority in managing the Rafah crossing but has agreed to an 'informal' administration of the crossing by Palestinian Authority personnel. This proposal is said to have been rejected by representatives of the Palestinian Authority. According to Axios, reopening Rafah is a key step in implementing the first phase of the hostage exchange agreement and ceasefire currently underway. U.S. officials also view this as an initial step and believe that the Palestinian Authority must accept Israel's proposal for a role in Gaza. The Rafah crossing has been closed since Israel took control of the Palestinian side, and Egypt has stated that it will refrain from reopening the crossing until the Palestinians take responsibility for it. This crossing is the most important route for delivering humanitarian aid to Palestinians residing in this strip since the beginning of the war between Israel and Hamas on October 7 until the Israeli attack on Rafah in May of this year. The war between Israel and Hamas began on October 7 (15 Mehr) last year when militants from this Palestinian militant group and its allies attacked southern Israel, killing 1,200 people and taking around 250 hostages. Approximately 120 hostages are still held by Hamas forces in Gaza, and this group has not released any news or information about their status. Israel and the United States consider Hamas a terrorist organization. The U.S. has requested the Security Council to pressure Hamas to accept a 'ceasefire and the release of hostages.' A report from Human Rights Watch: 'Crimes against humanity and war crimes' in the attacks on October 15 and thereafter. Ongoing retaliatory attacks between Hezbollah and Israel; residents of northern areas are calling for serious action from the Israeli government against Hezbollah. Health officials in Gaza reported that at least 57 Palestinians were killed in Israeli attacks.