Israel rules out Erez reopening despite reports of US pressure

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz have ruled out reopening the Erez Crossing with the Gaza Strip, pushing back against recent reports that the border terminal was set to resume operations for the entry of goods, The Times of Israel reports.

Hebrew-language media had reported that the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) was preparing to reopen the crossing for commercial goods, but not for pedestrian traffic, following pressure from the United States. The reports also said the move had been approved by the National Security Council, overseen by the Prime Minister’s Office, with September 1 reportedly set as the deadline for reopening.

Netanyahu and Katz, however, rejected the reports, saying that “there is no directive to open the Erez Crossing for goods.”

“Israel’s policy in Gaza is clear and has not changed: There will be no reconstruction before the Hamas terror organization is disarmed and the Gaza Strip is fully demilitarized,” they said in a joint statement.

The Erez Crossing was closed after Hamas launched its October 7, 2023, attack on Israel, which included an assault on the border crossing.

The crossing was subsequently reopened for aid deliveries in May 2024, but was closed again several days later as alternative routes were used to deliver humanitarian assistance into Gaza.

By Vafa Guliyeva