Israel and Egypt are embroiled in a heated dispute over the closure of the Rafah border crossing, with both sides pointing fingers at each other as Gaza’s humanitarian crisis deepens.
The tension escalated when Israeli forces took control of the Gaza side of the crossing, prompting Israel’s Foreign Minister Israel Katz to urge the UK and Germany to pressure Egypt to reopen the crossing. However, Egypt fired back, blaming Israel’s military operations in the area for blocking aid from passing through.
The war of words continued as Mr. Katz accused Hamas of losing control of the Rafah crossing, citing security concerns that Israel cannot compromise on. Egypt’s Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry swiftly rejected Israel’s claims, placing the blame squarely on Israel for the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza.
The situation worsened as almost 450,000 Palestinians fled from Rafah following Israel’s military incursion, drawing condemnation from UN Secretary-General António Guterres. He called for a ceasefire and the reopening of the Rafah crossing to alleviate the dire situation in Gaza.
International aid agencies also expressed concern over the closures of the Rafah and Kerem Shalom crossings, which have cut off Gaza from much-needed aid. The US State Department and UN food agency have called on Israel to ensure the crossings remain open to prevent a full-blown famine in Gaza.
As the dispute rages on, the people of Gaza are left in a precarious situation, with limited access to essential supplies and aid. The international community continues to pressure Israel and Egypt to find a resolution to the crisis and reopen the border crossings to alleviate the suffering of the people in Gaza.
