Rafa:
Dozens of bulldozers, construction vehicles and trucks lined up along the Egyptian side of the Rafa border crossing on Thursday, according to Egyptian media, waiting to enter Gaza on Thursday.
Alcahera News said it had developed close ties with Egyptian intelligence agency and its equipment was placed at the intersection for entry into war-torn Palestinian territory.
The AFP photographer also saw the vehicle, including a truck carrying the caravan, and confirmed it was waiting at the border.
However, an Israeli government spokesperson said heavy machinery will not be allowed to enter the Gaza Strip via Rafa, which intersects with Egypt.
“There will be no entry of heavy machinery to the Caravan (mobile home) or the Gaza Strip. There will be no adjustments to this,” Omerdostri, spokesman for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, wrote in X.
“According to the agreement, products that enter the Gaza Strip from the intersection of Rafa are not permitted,” he added.
Under the ongoing ceasefire agreement, Rafa was opened to evacuate injured and sick. Other aids are also permitted to enter the territory through the intersection of Kelem Shalom.
“We are standing behind them (Palestinians) and hopefully a better day will come,” border driver Ahmed Abdel Deim told AFP.
The situation unfolds amid growing tensions over President Donald Trump's plan to relocate Palestinians from Gaza to Egypt and Jordan.
Egyptian President Abdel Fatta al-Sisi called such displacements “unable to participate” and “injustice” in Egypt, while Jordan King Abdullah said that his country was forced to move Palestinians on Gaza and the banks of the Jordan River. He said that he remains “still” in his position against the law.
Egypt is scheduled to hold an Arab state summit later this month, and this week announced it would present a “comprehensive vision” for reconstruction of Gaza in a way that would ensure Palestinians remain on the land.
The important US allies, Egypt and Jordan, rely heavily on foreign aid, and the US is considered one of the best donors.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published by Syndicate Feed.)
