The IDF announced Wednesday the death of a soldier in the Gaza Strip. He was named as Sgt. First Class Tal Lahat, 21, of the Maglan commando unit, from Kfar Saba.
A member of the elite Maglan special forces unit, Lahat fell during operations in a strategic area known as the Netzarim Corridor. His funeral is set for 5:00 p.m. Wednesday at the military cemetery in Kfar Saba.
Lahat's death brings the toll of the IDF ground operation against the Hamas terror organization in Gaza to 327.
Meanwhile, Egyptian officials are preparing to present a comprehensive plan for the Gaza-Egypt border corridor in the coming days, as talks over the Rafah crossing continue. The Lebanese Al-Akhbar newspaper reported Wednesday that sources close to the negotiations revealed the Israeli delegation in Cairo acknowledged limitations in their authority to make decisions on several Rafah crossing-related matters without consulting higher political authorities.
The report said that Israel had previously received a detailed Egyptian proposal concerning the Rafah crossing and its management structure. It also noted Egypt's opposition to all suggestions allowing Palestinian movement through the Kerem Shalom crossing on the Israeli side.
According to Al-Akhbar, Egypt expressed to Israeli and American officials its willingness to cooperate on border control between Gaza and Sinai. However, Cairo stipulated that this should occur within a broader framework than a bilateral partnership with Israel, insisting on the involvement of a third party in the supervision process.
In light of these developments, high-ranking Egyptian officials promised to present a clear and detailed outline of their vision for the border corridor in the coming days. The sources added that the Israeli delegation mentioned military objectives in the area that have yet to be achieved, stating that the ongoing negotiations do not necessitate halting efforts to reach these goals.
Conversely, Cairo voiced concerns that this stance aligns with a potential escalation in Gaza, "which could unfold in the coming days and jeopardize the negotiations, as Hamas cautioned mediators two days ago."
The report noted that mediators are awaiting Israel's responses on two key issues: the Rafah crossing and guaranteeing the continuation of the ceasefire during negotiations between stages of the agreement. In this context, it was reported that Hamas demands Israel "refrain from any type of military operations – including targeted strikes – during the negotiations" between stages.
