Egypt, Palestinian Authority in talks for PA to administer Gaza's Rafah Border Crossing

Egypt and the Palestinian Authority (PA) are reportedly in talks for the West Bank-based administration to administer the Rafah Border Crossing between the besieged Gaza Strip and the Sinai Peninsula, amid reports of Israel’s softening stance on the potential move.

According to the Israeli public broadcaster, Kan, over the weekend, unnamed sources familiar with the matter informed it that efforts are underway between Cairo and Ramallah to flesh out a deal which would see the PA manage the Rafah Crossing, with senior PA official, Hussein Al-Sheikh, reportedly having recently met an Egyptian official based in Ramallah to discuss such a plan.

In pushing the proposal, Egyptian authorities apparently aim for it to be the initial step in a broader plan for the PA to gradually take over and manage other strategic areas in Gaza following the end of Israel’s ongoing offensive on the embattled territory.

It comes amid reports that even Tel Aviv itself is warming to the idea, despite many elements and figures in the far-right ruling coalition initially being opposed to any form of Palestinian self-rule in Gaza.

READ: Israel Prime Minister, Defence Minister trade barbs over Gaza war aims

Last month, Axios revealed that Israeli, PA and American officials had held a secret meeting on reopening the Rafah border Crossing. According to that report, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was opposed to the direct involvement of the PA in running the Rafah Crossing and had, instead, urged it to send personnel in an unofficial capacity, which the PA refused.

The Times of Israel, however, cited officials last month as saying that the Israeli premier’s circle is increasingly seeming to recognise that the PA is the only viable option to manage the Rafah border Crossing at this point in time.

A reopening of the Crossing would come months after Israeli occupation forces captured the entire Gaza-Egypt border and ceased activity at the Crossing, further cutting off access to aid and restricting opportunities for Palestinians to escape the besieged Strip.

The move to reopen would notably benefit efforts to reach a ceasefire deal in Gaza, in which Israel would stop its bombardment and war crimes in exchange for the release of Israeli hostages held by Palestinian Resistance group, Hamas. The group’s wounded fighters would also reportedly be able to travel across the border into Egypt to receive medical treatment as part of that first phase of the ceasefire, under that proposal.

READ: Israel’s next problem: who will run post-war Gaza?