Following Israel’s recent announcement of partially reopening the Rafah border crossing with the Gaza Strip for limited pedestrian movement, sources indicate that Israeli officials are pushing the United States to significantly reduce the number of aid trucks entering the territory. The move is framed as an effort to weaken the financial capabilities of Hamas by restricting its revenue streams. n nAccording to informed reports, Israel aims to cut daily truck deliveries from approximately 600 to between 120 and 200 at most, subjecting all cargo to rigorous inspection protocols. Israeli authorities remain firmly opposed to allowing goods to cross through Rafah, even amid potential diplomatic friction with regional and international stakeholders. n nA senior Israeli official from the Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories unit emphasized the necessity of keeping the crossing closed to commercial traffic for now and in the foreseeable future, citing ongoing security concerns related to Hamas’s control over Gaza. n nIsraeli assessments estimate that each truck entering Gaza has a value of around 500,000 shekels, with Hamas collecting a 15 percent tax—approximately 75,000 shekels per truck. Based on these figures, the group could be generating nearly 45 million shekels per day solely from truck-related levies. n nMeanwhile, the Israeli coordinator noted that while Gaza currently faces a cash shortage, local markets have adapted by relying on digital money transfer platforms, interbank settlements, and informal currency exchange networks. n nThe decision to allow only pedestrian passage through Rafah has been finalized under three conditions: Israeli approval, Egyptian consent to prevent forced displacement of Palestinians, and authorization from the international body overseeing the crossing’s operations. n nRecently, the office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed the limited opening for individuals only, under full Israeli monitoring, stating the measure aligns with a proposal introduced by former U.S. President Donald Trump. n nRafah remains the sole land route connecting Gaza’s population to the outside world. It has been largely closed to civilians since Israel took control in May 2024, despite multiple ceasefire agreements over the years. n— news from صوت بيروت إنترناشونال n
— News Original —nAfter partial opening of Rafah.. Israel seeks to reduce trucks and economically pressure HamasnAfter Israel announced days ago its approval of partially opening the Rafah border crossing south of the Gaza Strip for individuals only, informed sources revealed that Tel Aviv intends to ask the United States to reduce the number of trucks entering the Strip, in a move aimed at reducing the revenues of the Hamas movement. n nAccording to the sources, the Israeli side plans to pressure for reducing the number of daily trucks from about 600 trucks to between 200 and 120 trucks at most, subjecting their contents to strict monitoring and inspection. The sources also stressed that Israel firmly opposes opening the Rafah crossing for the passage of goods, even if this leads to tension with various parties. n nThe Israeli newspaper “Maariv” quoted a senior Israeli official from the unit coordinating government activities in the territories as saying that Israel must insist on keeping the crossing closed to goods for now and in the future, warning of Hamas’s continued control over the Gaza Strip. n nIsraeli estimates indicate that each truck entering Gaza is valued at about half a million shekels, and Hamas imposes a tax of 15 percent on each truck, equivalent to about 75,000 shekels. According to these calculations, the movement earns approximately 45 million shekels daily from truck entries alone. n nIn this context, the Israeli government activities coordinator in the territories explained that the sector currently suffers from a shortage of cash liquidity, but the Gaza market has resorted to alternative means, such as using money transfer applications and conducting financial settlements between bank accounts and money changers. n nAs for the opening of the Rafah crossing, the decision was settled to allow the passage of individuals only, according to three basic conditions: obtaining Israeli approval, and Egyptian approval for fear of using the crossing as a means of displacing Gaza’s population, in addition to the approval of the international body overseeing the management of the crossing. n nRecently, the office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced approval of the limited opening of the Rafah crossing for individuals only, within a mechanism of full Israeli oversight, explaining that the decision comes within the framework of the plan proposed by US President Donald Trump. n nThe Rafah crossing is the only land outlet for Gaza residents to the outside world, and has remained closed to civilians since Israel took control of it in May 2024, despite repeated ceasefire agreements.