The Israeli Channel 14 reported on Wednesday evening that the workers on the Palestinian side of the crossing will be local Palestinian citizens approved by the Israeli security establishment. Palestinian Authority officials explained to the channel that the force executing the operation at the Rafah crossing is loyal to the Palestinian Authority and its President Mahmoud Abbas (Abu Mazen). A senior Palestinian Authority official confirmed that this force is stationed in Gaza and ready to move at any moment to carry out the mission. The channel’s website indicated that ‘the Rafah crossing from the Palestinian side will not open without final Israeli approval.’ Earlier on Wednesday, Israeli media reported that Tel Aviv ‘decided to proceed with opening the Rafah crossing between Gaza and Egypt and allow the transfer of humanitarian aid to the sector after the return of the remains of four Israeli detainees,’ according to their statements. These media sources added that ‘Israel canceled measures it intended to take against, including reducing the number of aid trucks entering the sector by half.’ The Israeli Broadcasting Corporation pointed out that ‘600 aid trucks will enter Gaza with the reopening of the Rafah crossing today.’ On Tuesday, Hamas handed over the remains of other detainees to Israel. The Israeli army stated that it received four coffins from the Red Cross at a meeting point in the northern sector, adding that they were transferred into Israel for forensic examinations. The Times of Israel newspaper reported, citing sources, that ‘Israel will also reduce the amount of humanitarian aid entering Gaza as part of the sanctions imposed on Hamas.’
