Israel Claims to Have Opened Kerem Shalom Crossing

Facts

• The Israeli military said Wednesday that the Kerem Shalom crossing — closed on Sunday after a rocket attack killed four soldiers — 'is now open for the entry of humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip.'¹
• However, aid trucks are still reportedly waiting to enter Gaza, with the US saying that aid could not get through 'because of logistical and security concerns' on the ground.²
• The UN and aid organizations have said that al-Muwasi, the area to which Palestinians in Gaza have been told to evacuate, is not ready to shelter the evacuees. Palestinians have also reportedly sought refuge in Khan Younis or central Gaza.³
• After the US halted weapons shipments to Israel over the weekend, Israeli officials told their American counterparts that the timing of the move would jeopardize efforts to secure a deal for the release of hostages and a temporary cease-fire.⁴
• Meanwhile, Hamas claimed responsibility for firing eight rockets at southern Israel from the Rafah area, adding that it targeted a military position near Kerem Shalom. No casualties or damage was reported.⁵
• The Gaza cease-fire proposal that Hamas agreed to this week reportedly includes the release of Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners, the withdrawal of Israeli forces away from densely populated areas, and clauses calling for guarantees that the war will not resume.⁶

Sources: ¹AA, ²BBC News, ³Associated Press, ⁴Axios, ⁵The Times of Israel and ⁶Al Jazeera.

Narratives

• Pro-establishment narrative, as provided by New York Times. Israel must be able to defend itself from terrorist attacks from Gaza or elsewhere, and the US is committed to preventing malicious actors from threatening Israel's legitimate concerns. However, the humanitarian situation in Gaza has gotten out of hand and must be remedied. Netanyahu must stop politizing negotiations and come to an agreement that gets the hostages back and calms tensions.
• Pro-Israel narrative, as provided by Jerusalem Post. Israel has reached a decisive point in this conflict. If the nation gives in to international pressure, it will make clear to Israel's enemies that the country is weak and cannot stand up for itself. Such weakness will only encourage another attack like Oct. 7, which is simply unacceptable. Israel must continue to push into Rafah and win this war.
• Pro-Palestine narrative, as provided by Middle East Eye. The most consistent obstacle in these negotiations has been Netanyahu and his far-right government. If Netanyahu hadn't been hellbent on salvaging his political career and the Biden administration hadn't been so weak, thousands of lives may have been saved. Either way, the ball is in Israel's court, and everything must be done to ensure the end of this brutal war on Gaza.

Predictions