Meanwhile, the Palestinian Authority and its European and Arab backers are trying to persuade the US administration to stick to the original plan covering the whole Gaza Strip, rather than the smaller Israeli army-run zone supported by the United Arab Emirates.
"Hamas knows that if NCAG just moves into New Rafah, it would be delegitimised as the ruler of bantustans or a concentration camp," said Muhammad Shehada, a visiting fellow at the European Council on Foreign Relations.
"Hamas is trying to recapture the initiative and circumvent the roadblock created by the New Rafah plan."
>>> New York Man Sues Homeland Security Over Warning After ICE Criticism
"Even if they agree to disarm unilaterally and do everything they are asked to do, Hamas knows Netanyahu will not allow reconstruction anywhere in Gaza before elections," Shehada added.
