Israeli officials attempted to downplay reports of the Palestinian Authorities’ role in Gaza and the possibility of a two-state solution that would help normalize relations with Saudi Arabia.

Israeli PM Binyamin Netanyahu on Wednesday denied a report in a Saudi-owned news outlet that it agreed to allow the Palestinian Authority (PA) to take control of the Rafah crossing between Gaza and Egypt.

Israel has confirmed it will maintain control of the Rafah border crossing between Egypt and the Gaza Strip in phase one of its ceasefire deal with Hamas.

Israel has confirmed that it will maintain control over the Rafah border crossing, the key passage between Egypt and the Gaza Strip.

Israel said it will maintain control of the Rafah border crossing between Egypt and the Gaza Strip during the first phase of the ceasefire with Hamas. A statement by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office on Wednesday denied reports that the Palestinian Authority would control the crossing.

Palestinians in Gaza are confronting an apocalyptic landscape of devastation after a ceasefire paused more than 15 months of fighting between Israel and Hamas.

Israel will maintain control of the Rafah border crossing between Egypt and Gaza during the initial ceasefire phase with Hamas. The Palestinian Authority will not manage the crossing, and vetted Palestinians will stamp passports.

Saudi media reported Wednesday that the heads of the Mossad and the Shin Bet security agency agreed with the head of Egyptian intelligence that the Palestinian Authority will manage the Palestinian side of the Rafah crossing, under UN supervision.

Hundreds of aid trucks were beginning to enter Gaza, which has been devastated by airstrikes and shelling in the wake of Israel’s response to Hamas' Oct. 7, 2023 cross-border terrorist attack.

DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — Three hostages released from Gaza are now in Israel in the first test of a fragile ceasefire with Hamas. The three hostages are Romi Gonen, 24, kidnapped from the Nova music festival, and Emily Damari, 28, and Doron Steinbrecher, 31, kidnapped from Kibbutz Kfar Aza.

Israel’s top general has resigned, citing the security and intelligence failures related to Hamas’ surprise attack that triggered the war in Gaza.