Are caravans really about to enter the Gaza Strip?

The Al-Jazeera pictures of caravans, heavy equipment, and aid ready to enter the Gaza Strip en masse are part of a Hamas propaganda stunt meant to make it look like Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu surrendered in negotiations, according to Channel 12 reporter Amit Segal.

According to Segal: "No caravans will enter today through the Rafah crossing, it seems this is a PR show that will allow Hamas to back down. The agreement includes bringing in 60,000 caravans, an unrealistic number. In the entire region they only managed to scrape together 800, a drop in the ocean.

"Hamas demanded to bring in wood and plaster equivalent to 60,000 units to build them in Gaza, which Israel obviously refuses since these are construction materials and Israel opposes reconstruction before Hamas leaves.

"The caravans that do exist will undergo aggressive inspection and will enter through other crossings in a lengthy process."

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's Spokesperson Omer Dostri said that "as we've often clarified: there is no introduction of caravans or heavy equipment into the Gaza Strip, and the coordination for this does not exist. Furthermore, in accordance with the agreement - there is no introduction of goods at all into the Gaza Strip via Rafah."

Army Radio reporter Doron Kadosh had this to report:

"It's important to clarify - there is Israeli agreement in the original deal with Hamas to allow caravans and heavy equipment for debris removal into Gaza (under inspection, of course). So far this hasn't happened. The caravans and equipment are waiting on the Egyptian side and haven't yet entered the Strip.

"Nevertheless - it's just a matter of time. Eventually they will enter Gaza. If not today, then tomorrow or in a few days. And if not through the Rafah crossing, then through another crossing. It doesn't really matter.

"Therefore, the series of messages from the Prime Minister's spokesperson, who keeps insisting repeatedly that there is no entry of caravans and heavy equipment, is somewhat puzzling, if in the end this is what will happen and they will be allowed in as Israel has already agreed.

"In short - we'll wait for the photos and documentation showing the entry of caravans and equipment into the Strip. It's just a matter of time, despite the vigorous denials in Israel."

Egyptian sources in Rafah told the Qatari al-Araby al-Jadid that "dozens of engineering vehicles and caravans are at the crossing gate waiting to enter the Gaza Strip, including bulldozers and trucks for debris removal. The vehicles will be transferred to the Gaza Strip through the Kerem Shalom crossing after inspection procedures. Some engineering vehicles were sent from Qatar as aid and others are from Egyptian companies. They will operate in Gaza under the Egyptian-Qatari committee that will supervise this."