The U.S., Israel and the Palestinian Authority held a secret meeting last week to discuss the reopening of the Rafah crossing between Egypt and Gaza as part of a hostage and ceasefire deal, three Israeli and U.S. officials told Axios, Paralel.Az reports.

The participants in the meeting, which took place in Tel Aviv, included President Biden's top Middle East Adviser, Brett McGurk; the director of the Israeli Shin Bet security agency, Ronen Bar; and Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas' top deputies — minister Hussein al-Sheikh and director of intelligence Majed Faraj.