Israeli Cabinet Ministers erupt over Rafah Crossing plan in Trump ceasefire deal
Smotrich, Ben Gvir, Strock warn Rafah opening risks Hamas or PA Gaza takeover
The Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) said Sunday that Israel has agreed to a limited reopening of the Rafah Crossing under a US-backed ceasefire framework, contingent on the recovery of Israeli hostages. The move, presented as part of President Donald Trump’s 20-point plan, has already drawn sharp opposition from several cabinet ministers.
According to the PMO, Israel will allow a restricted opening of Rafah for the humanitarian movement of people only, under full Israeli supervision. The opening is conditioned on the return of all abductees alive and on what the statement calls a “100% effort by Hamas to locate and return all the deceased hostages.”
The statement said the IDF is currently conducting a focused operation, using fresh intelligence, to locate and recover the remains of the kidnapped Israeli officer, the late Major General Ran Gvili. It added that once the operation is completed, and in line with understandings with Washington, Israel will proceed with opening the crossing.
READ MORE: Israel confirms search for body of Ran Gvili is ongoing in northern Gaza
“The State of Israel is committed to the return of the hero of Israel, Maj. Gen. Ran Gvili, and will spare no effort to return him to the grave of Israel,” the PMO said.
The move drew criticism during a cabinet meeting on Saturday evening, according to i24NEWS’s Hebrew-language sister channel. Settlement and National Missions Minister Orit Strock warned, “We are transferring Gaza to the Palestinian Authority with the blood of our children,” adding, “This cabinet will eventually make a decision to send our soldiers to fight Hamas because no one else will do it, and then what will we tell them?”
Other ministers echoed concerns over who will govern Gaza. “We need to make sure that the government in Gaza is neither Hamas’s nor the PA’s,” Transportation Minister Miri Regev said. Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich argued, “If we don’t rule there with military rule, it means we will get a Palestinian state.” National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir warned, “If the Rafah crossing opens, it will be a big mistake and a very bad message.”
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