US State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said that Washington is communicating with the Israeli government regarding the Rafah crossing, indicating that his country wants to reopen the crossing, despite his emphasis on what he considered “Tel Aviv’s legitimate goal” to prevent the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) from controlling the crossing.
According to statements made by Miller in an interview with Tel Aviv Tribune, Israel has a legitimate goal of preventing Hamas from controlling the crossing, revealing that Tel Aviv will allow fuel to enter from the crossing on Wednesday.
On Tuesday morning, the Israeli occupation army announced its control of the Rafah crossing, which connects Egypt to the Gaza Strip. Thus, the occupation forces entered the Salah al-Din “Philadelphia” axis for the first time since their withdrawal from the Gaza Strip in mid-August 2005.
It should be noted that the Philadelphia axis is a 14-kilometre border strip separating the Palestinian territories of the Gaza Strip and the Sinai Peninsula, and the peace agreement between Egypt and Israel stipulates that it will be a “buffer zone” along the border between the two parties.
Miller reiterated his country’s position of opposition to a large-scale operation in Rafah, south of the Gaza Strip, in which Israel began a military ground operation that it said was “limited in scope, purpose and size.”
Regarding the ceasefire and prisoner exchange negotiations, the American official indicated that Hamas did not accept the proposed ceasefire proposal as it was, but rather presented additional demands in its response, pointing out that such a thing happens in negotiations.
He considered that a ceasefire is in the interest of all parties, and added that an agreement is possible, calling on all parties to do their best.
As for the temporary floating port, the US State Department spokesman said that the sea dock will not replace other aid entry mechanisms, and stressed the importance of opening other crossings.
He revealed that the United States has reached the final stages of assembling the marine pier in Gaza, while at the same time refusing to reveal how it will be managed, saying only that his country is working with humanitarian agencies working in the field.
In early March, US President Joe Biden announced that his country’s army would undertake the task of building a temporary floating port off the coast of the Gaza Strip for the purpose of “transporting humanitarian aid,” while the Israeli occupation army said that the port would be built on an area estimated at more than 281 dunums.