Israel Considers Letting EU, Palestinians Control Rafah Crossing
- An agreement could foreshadow an end to the conflict in Gaza
- Israeli control of the Rafah crossing is key source of tension
During a media tour with the Israeli military, soldiers drive on the Palestinian side of a southern Gaza border crossing on July 3.
Photographer: Ohad Zwigenberg/AFP/Getty ImagesThis article is for subscribers only.
Israeli officials are considering transferring control of Gaza’s Rafah border crossing to the European Union and Palestinians, according to people familiar with the matter.
Though Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has scorned the idea of Israel ceding the crossing, Israeli officials are in talks with the EU and US about the proposal, the people said. If enacted, it could foreshadow an end to the conflict between Israel and Hamas and enable more aid to get into the devastated Palestinian territory, said the people, who asked not to be identified discussing the sensitive talks.