Washington pressures Israel on Rafah while Hamas abuses crossings and Arab actors deflect responsibility.
American pressure on Israel to reopen the Rafah crossing has intensified in recent days, underscoring the widening gap between strategic reality and diplomatic optics. According to Kan 11 News, the issue featured prominently during Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s meetings in Washington, including discussions with US President Donald Trump.
Israeli officials are now preparing for the possibility that the Rafah crossing could reopen in both directions once Netanyahu returns to Israel. US officials reportedly expect an announcement within days—despite Israel’s consistent warnings that Rafah has been systematically exploited by Hamas for weapons smuggling, terror logistics, and hostage trafficking.
The crossing was initially slated to reopen in October as part of the Gaza ceasefire framework. That plan collapsed after Hamas violated ceasefire terms and delayed the return of murdered Israeli hostages—forcing Israel to halt any move that could further empower the terror group. This was not obstructionism; it was basic national security.
In early December, Israel signaled conditional flexibility, agreeing in principle to allow one-way civilian exits from Gaza into Egypt, while barring entry back into Gaza. Cairo publicly denied any agreement—once again highlighting the familiar pattern: Arab governments demand Israeli concessions while refusing accountability for Gaza’s reality.
Israel’s position remains clear. Humanitarian considerations cannot override security imperatives when terror organizations openly weaponize crossings, aid, and civilians. The Rafah crossing is not a neutral gate—it has been a strategic artery for Hamas’s survival.
As Washington presses for movement, Israel insists on facts over fantasy. Open borders without enforcement do not bring peace; they bring rockets, tunnels, and coffins. Responsibility for Gaza does not lie with Jerusalem alone—Arab states that speak loudly about “humanitarian suffering” must finally confront the terror regimes they enabled.
