Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu denied reports on Wednesday that he allowed the Palestinian Authority to run the Rafah border crossing on the border between Gaza and Egypt. The border crossing is slated to open next week on day seven of a ceasefire agreement that halted Israel’s genocidal war on the Gaza Strip.

Israel has confirmed it will maintain control of the Rafah border crossing between Egypt and the Gaza Strip in phase one of its ceasefire deal with Hamas.

Israel says it will maintain control of the Rafah border crossing between Egypt and the Gaza Strip during the first phase of the ceasefire with Hamas.

The Israeli military said Wednesday its soldiers killed an alleged militant in Gaza whom it said posed a threat to its forces, as the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas stretched into a fourth day. It appeared to be the first time since the ceasefire began Sunday that the Israeli military said it struck targets in Gaza.

Israel said it will maintain control of the Rafah border crossing between Egypt and the Gaza Strip during the first phase of the ceasefire with Hamas. A statement by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office on Wednesday denied reports that the Western-backed Palestinian Authority would control the crossing.