Egypt on Wednesday rejected a plan presented by the Israeli government to reopen the Rafah border crossing between the Gaza Strip and the Sinai Peninsula.
Reportedly, Israel was dispatched On Wednesday, two members of the Shin Bet security forces submitted a proposal. The proposal would reportedly allow for humanitarian aid to enter Gaza from Egypt and allow people in need of medical assistance to pass through in the opposite direction, while recognizing Israel’s security concerns. It is said that it was done.
The proposal also reportedly includes how Israel would manage the Rafah border once it completes its military operations in Gaza and withdraws from the area. Egypt has said border crossings should be fully under Palestinian control, but Israel has apparently proposed a more complex arrangement.
Rafah border crossing flash point International controversy arose long before Israel launched a military operation against the city of Rafah, the last stronghold of Hamas terrorists in the Gaza Strip. The Egyptians nervous With Palestinian refugees pouring across the border, Israel fears Hamas leaders will use the border to flee or bring in more weapons for its fighters. The United Nations is calling for the crossing to be opened to allow humanitarian aid to flow into Gaza.
Tent of displaced Palestinians in al-Mawasi, next to the border fence with Egypt, on the outskirts of Rafah, Gaza Strip, May 9, 2024. (Ahmad Salem/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
Egypt now accuses Israel of blocking access to the Rafah crossing in a military operation, and accuses Israel of wanting to drive Palestinians out of Gaza completely and dump them into Egypt as refugees.
Israelis have criticized Egypt for keeping the border closed and say military operations should not be an obstacle to using the border for humanitarian aid. Israeli officials expressed disappointment that Egypt rejected the latest proposal to reopen its borders on Wednesday.
Foreign Minister Israel Katz Said On Tuesday, the Prime Minister announced that he had called on Britain and Germany to “persuade” Egypt to reopen the Rafah crossing.
“While the world holds Israel responsible for the humanitarian situation, the key to preventing a humanitarian crisis in Gaza now lies in the hands of our friends in Egypt.”
Egypt’s Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry said that as a result of “Israel’s indiscriminate atrocities committed against Palestinians over a period of more than seven months”, “Israel is responsible for the humanitarian catastrophe that Palestinians are currently enduring in the Gaza Strip”. “Yes,” he responded irritated.
Shoukry said Israel had a “legal responsibility as an occupying power to allow aid access through land ports under its control,” but Egypt rejected an Israeli proposal to do just that. He did not explain why he did so.
Shoukry’s reaction suggests that Palestinian politics are involved, as it is highly unlikely that Egypt is cooperating with Israel at this stage of the Gaza military operation.
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Egypt announced on Sunday that it would support South Africa’s genocide case against Israel at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), a clear sign of deteriorating relations.According to Al Jazeera News on Thursday, Egypt saw Israel’s insistence on continuing Operation Rafah as a “disrespect” and joining the genocide case at the International Court of Justice was a way of showing Cairo’s anger.
“This isn’t just about putting pressure on Israel. It’s also about putting pressure on the United States to use its influence against Israel,” said Erin A. Snyder, an Egyptologist and former Texas Tech University professor. told Al Jazeera.
This is what the Biden White House looked like. caught with flat feet This is due to Egypt’s refusal to reopen the Rafah crossing. When a reporter asked for the White House’s response to the refusal, a visibly perplexed press secretary, Karine Jean-Pierre, was unable to articulate why the Egyptians were denying humanitarian aid to Gaza.
