US officials visit Israel to discuss Gaza and Iran files

Informed sources reported that US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner will arrive in Israel on Saturday for a meeting with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, coinciding with Israel's preparations to receive the commander of the US Central Command, Brad Cooper. Sources reported that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will meet with US President Donald Trump's envoys on Saturday evening in West Jerusalem. Estimates indicate that the talks will focus on the issue of opening the Rafah crossing and beginning the reconstruction phase in Gaza.

Meanwhile, US State Department spokeswoman Carissa Gonzalez said that the opening of the Rafah crossing is an essential part of the peace plan in the Gaza Strip. She added that the Rafah crossing will open for passage in both directions, emphasizing that President Trump is closely monitoring the matter. While the head of the Gaza management committee, Ali Shaath, said on Thursday that the Rafah crossing would open next week, Israeli reports denied the validity of this, confirming that its opening would not happen before Tel Aviv's full conditions are met. The Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper had confirmed that the Ministerial Committee for National Security Affairs (the 'Cabinet') decided at its last meeting not to open the Rafah crossing at the present time.

High alert In the Iranian file, Israel is preparing to receive the commander of the US Central Command, General Brad Cooper, who will arrive on Saturday for high-level security discussions, according to the Israeli Broadcasting Corporation.

Cooper is expected to meet with Israeli Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir and the Air Force Commander to discuss joint preparations amid increasing Israeli expectations of a possible preemptive Iranian attack, according to sources. This comes as Washington escalates its military movements in the region, with US President Donald Trump announcing that a large force is heading towards Iran. Two US officials revealed on Thursday that an aircraft carrier group and other military assets will arrive in the Middle East in the coming days, amid Israeli alert for the possibility of a US military strike against Iran within weeks, according to circulating estimates.