File Photo: Egypt’s State Information Service (SIS) chief Diaa Rashwan. Ahram.
Speaking to Sky News Arabia, Rashwan said there had been “relative progress” toward reopening the crossing and enabling the PA to take part in its administration, citing recent meetings between Palestinian officials and Hassan Rashad, head of Egypt’s General Intelligence Service.
Rashwan said the discussions reflect ongoing preparations to involve the Palestinian Authority in running Rafah as part of the first phase of a plan proposed by US President Donald Trump.
He said PA involvement remains “a realistic option” despite Israeli opposition, arguing that no alternative body is currently capable of managing the crossing. The technocratic government expected to administer Gaza, he added, has yet to be formed, while reopening Rafah is required before moving to the plan’s second phase.
“The choice is either to postpone opening the crossing entirely until the second phase, when the technocratic government is established, or to open it as part of completing the first phase and allow the Palestinian Authority to manage it, with Israeli monitoring from remote security zones,” Rashwan said.
He accused Israel of narrowing the scope of the US plan to focus solely on disarming Hamas and other Palestinian factions, while avoiding political and administrative arrangements for Gaza.
Rashwan said the PA recognizes the importance of the current stage, adding that taking over management of Rafah would amount to a political gain for the PA after years of Israeli opposition to any role for it in Gaza.
He also accused Netanyahu of deliberately delaying the formation of a technocratic government made up of independent Palestinian figures, saying such a body would pave the way for an elected Palestinian administration in Gaza in which the PA could be represented.
“The Palestinian Authority and the factions are not in a hurry regarding the next phases,” Rashwan said. “Netanyahu, however, is the one rushing to sabotage the agreement.”
On Sunday, Palestinian Vice President Hussein Al-Sheikh and intelligence chief Majed Farag held separate meetings in Cairo with Egyptian intelligence chief Hassan Rashad and Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty to discuss implementation of the second phase of the US plan.
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