Four officials from the PA, Israel and the United States told Axios that Israel made the request as Egypt threatened to disallow the transport of aid unless Israel withdrew from Rafah
Israel has reportedly begun launching airstrikes and evacuated some 100,000 of the over one million Palestinians sheltering in Rafah.
Guterres will later travel to Jordan where he will visit UNRWA facilities and have a Ramadan Iftar with Palestinian refugees and UN staff in Amman.
Netanyahu referred to Rafah as "the last Hamas stronghold."
The wall, which is set to span 8 square miles, is being developed as Egyptian officials fear refugees from Gaza will flood into the country after Israel removes Hamas from power.
The United Nations has said an Israeli offensive on Rafah could "lead to a slaughter".
The Biden administration was “pleased to hear the news of two Israeli hostages freed last night by Israeli Defense Forces in Rafah after 128 days” Kirby said.
Gulf media and Western media both focus on the potential operation, showing what is at stake in Rafah.
Taking on the last Hamas stronghold in Gaza can end the war or create the ultimate humanitarian disaster. Perhaps both simultaneously.
Currently, Hamas controls the area along the Egyptian border, and this remains one of the last Hamas strongholds in Gaza.
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