According to a Galei Tzahal (Army Radio) report by journalists Moriah Asraf and Doron Kadosh, Prime Minister Netanyahu and Defense Minister Katz approved two weeks ago, without public announcement, the start of infrastructure rehabilitation work in eastern Rafah ("Green Rafah"). The project, within the IDF-controlled yellow line, includes earthworks, electricity, water, and sewage, to be carried out by Palestinian contractors undergoing Shin Bet security vetting. The political echelon has not authorized the entry of caravans or portable structures until after the November 2026 elections, limiting the scope of rehabilitation.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz have quietly approved the start of infrastructure rehabilitation work in the eastern Rafah area, known as 'Green Rafah,' according to a Galei Tzahal (Army Radio) report by journalists Moriah Asraf and Doron Kadosh. The decision, made approximately two weeks ago without a public announcement, authorizes earthworks, electricity, water, and sewage projects within the IDF-controlled yellow line. The contractors and workers — all Palestinian Gazans — are currently undergoing Shin Bet security vetting before being permitted to enter the zone, with expectations they will begin work within weeks.
The political echelon has not authorized the entry of caravans or portable structures until after the November 2026 elections, signaling a deliberate limit on the scope of rehabilitation. The Green Rafah area, cleared and flattened by the IDF, currently stands empty.
The move follows the earlier decision to deploy a multinational stabilization force in Gaza, approved by Israel as part of the US-led 'Board of Peace' framework. As The Zioneer reported earlier this morning, the approval marks a first step in creating a civilian administration zone outside Hamas control, though the terror group has not yet disarmed. The project remains a single-source report, and the timeline for actual construction depends on the security vetting process.
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