The Rafah crossing is the gateway to the Gaza Strip to the outside world, and is the main entry point for humanitarian aid into Gaza.
According to many analyses, controlling the Rafah crossing constitutes a prelude to the gradual control of the entire city and the Philadelphia axis with Egypt, which Cairo says contradicts the Camp David Accords.
Since the war raged in Gaza, Israel has been planning to control the Palestinian side of the crossing and monitor all aid coming into Gaza. It has also repeatedly threatened, especially Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, that it will carry out the invasion of Rafah, despite global opposition to such an action, including This includes Washington’s opposition to him.
As for Tel Aviv, sources quoted Israeli officials as saying that Israel believes that controlling the strategic port will eliminate Hamas’s claims that it is still ruling Gaza, in addition to its goal of eliminating the movement’s military capabilities.
Plans to involve Palestinians in monitoring aid
In addition to this, Israel also aspires, in the coming days and weeks, for Palestinians from Gaza, who are not affiliated with Hamas, to participate in monitoring and distributing aid entering the Gaza Strip from Egypt, according to the same sources.
In addition, Israel promotes that the eastern part of the city is a strategic location for Hamas.
Despite international warnings, the Israeli army announced that it took control of the Palestinian side of the Rafah crossing on Tuesday morning, after Israeli tanks and ground forces entered the eastern suburbs of the city.
Bombing on Rafah
Meanwhile, Palestinian media reported that Israeli aircraft launched new raids on eastern Rafah, while Palestine TV indicated “continuous artillery shelling east of Rafah Governorate, south of the Gaza Strip.”
The Israeli army said: “4 mortar shells were fired from the Rafah area towards Israel after sirens sounded in the Kerem Shalom area.”
He also confirmed that two additional missiles were detected from the Rafah area towards Israel.
He added that these launches are further evidence of “Hamas’ systematic exploitation of the Rafah area for terrorist purposes,” but stressed the continuation of “work and eliminating every threat against Israeli civilians.”
