Report: Abu Mazen is  Preventing a Deal for the Release of Hostages

One of the issues hindering progress in negotiations between Israel and Hamas is control over the Rafah crossing the day after the war. One of the solutions proposed by the United States and accepted by Israel is that the Palestinian Authority led by Abu Mazen would unofficially be responsible for the Rafah crossing. Abu Mazen's agreement would have led to a breakthrough in talks between the parties.

However, Channel 12 news commentator Ehud Yaari reported this evening that the Palestinian Authority rejected an American proposal that officially they would be responsible for managing the Rafah crossing as part of a deal.

As previously mentioned, Israel has so far refused to officially transfer control of the crossing to the Palestinian Authority, but was willing to have PA personnel unofficially take responsibility.

It is worth noting that this is a significant development because without the Palestinian Authority's agreement on the control plan for the Rafah crossing, the parties will struggle to reach a hostage deal.