Al-Araby TV: Gaza agreement stipulates Rafah crossing to open at this time

(Al-Araby TV) said on Thursday evening, quoting unnamed sources, that the Gaza agreement stipulates opening the Rafah land crossing 72 hours after the ceasefire takes effect.

The sources said Israel will begin evacuating the Palestinian side of the Rafah crossing starting this evening, while discussions are underway over which party will control the Palestinian side after it opens.

They indicated that preparations are underway to bring equipment into the Gaza Strip to help clear rubble and recover the bodies of captives.

In a related development, (Channel 12) said on Thursday morning, citing sources in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office, that the ceasefire will come into force in the Gaza Strip only after government approval.

The channel had said the agreement would take effect at 12:00 p.m. local time, then retracted that, as Israeli strikes in Gaza City continued at the time.

Separately, the Israeli army radio said Israel would not initiate any offensive operations now but would not withdraw before the government ratifies the agreement.

The government is scheduled to approve the ceasefire and prisoner-exchange agreement at 5:00 p.m. local time at a cabinet meeting.

The (Israeli Broadcasting Corporation) also predicted the government would ratify the Gaza agreement, and said it was unlikely that National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich would withdraw from the government over it, despite their opposition.

This came after the channel said U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff and White House adviser Jared Kushner are due to arrive in Israel this evening.

U.S. President Donald Trump had said he is likely to visit Israel in the coming days and deliver a speech in the Knesset following the agreement on a prisoner exchange and ceasefire in the Gaza Strip.

Early on Thursday, Trump announced that Israel and the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) had agreed on the first phase of his plan to stop the war and exchange prisoners.

Hamas said the agreement calls for ending the war, an Israeli withdrawal, the entry of aid, and a prisoner exchange.

Qatar announced agreement on the terms and mechanisms for implementing the first phase of Trump’s plan, which will lead to a stop to the war, the release of detainees and prisoners, and the entry of aid, with details to be announced later.