Contrary to what Benjamin Netanyahu promised, heavy machinery enters Gaza

In a significant policy shift Tuesday, Israeli officials confirmed that heavy construction equipment has begun entering Gaza through the Rafah crossing, contradicting earlier statements by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office that had explicitly ruled out such transfers.

According to Arab media reports, the entry of heavy machinery commenced following extensive diplomatic efforts by Qatar, which has advocated for Gaza's reconstruction needs.

A senior political source, speaking on condition of anonymity, revealed that the decision is tied to ongoing hostage negotiations. "Prime Minister Netanyahu is making tremendous efforts to secure the release of all six remaining living hostages in phase one, as well as four deceased hostages," the source stated. They further explained that "under the hostage release framework, Israel committed to allowing caravans and construction equipment into the Gaza Strip after rigorous security checks."

The development stands in stark contrast to an official statement issued just four days prior by Netanyahu's spokesperson, who had categorically denied any such arrangements: "As we have clarified more than once: There is no entry of caravans or heavy equipment into the Gaza Strip, and there is no coordination for this. Additionally, according to the agreement - there is no entry of goods at all through the Rafah crossing into the Gaza Strip."

The reversal appears to be part of a broader negotiation strategy, with the political source emphasizing that the implementation will be "controlled and gradual" and contingent upon Hamas's compliance with the agreement terms. The exact nature of the security checks and the types of equipment being permitted have not been publicly detailed.