Cairo says it will allow aid to be delivered through its border to Gaza after closing it to civilians fleeing the war.
Egypt, in discussions with the United States and other stakeholders, has expressed its commitment to delivering humanitarian aid through its border with the Gaza Strip. However, the country firmly opposes the establishment of secure passageways for refugees seeking to leave the region, according to sources within Egyptian security circles.
Gaza, a narrow coastal territory situated between Israel to the north and east, and Egypt to the southwest, is home to approximately 2.3 million individuals who have endured a prolonged blockade since the Palestinian militant organization, Hamas, assumed control in 2007. Egypt has historically restricted the movement of Gaza Palestinians into its territory, even during the most intense bouts of conflict.
Cairo, a frequent mediator in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, consistently underscores the need for both parties to resolve their disputes within their own borders, asserting that this is the sole means for Palestinians to attain their right to statehood.
Jake Sullivan, the US National Security Advisor, disclosed that the United States has been engaged in consultations with Israel and Egypt regarding the concept of establishing safe routes for Gaza civilians. This initiative was spurred by a significant Israeli military operation in response to a lethal incursion by Hamas militants into Israel. These consultations are ongoing, as confirmed by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken.
One of the anonymous Egyptian security sources stated to Reuters that Egypt opposes the notion of safe corridors for civilians in order to safeguard “the right of Palestinians to hold on to their cause and their land.”
The right of return remains a crucial issue for Palestinian refugees and their descendants who reside in various Arab states, stemming from those who fled or were displaced during the 1948 conflict surrounding the creation of Israel. Both the Palestinians and several Arab states insist that a comprehensive peace agreement must incorporate the right of these refugees to return, a demand that Israel has consistently rebuffed.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres emphasized the urgent need for life-saving essentials, including fuel, food, and water, to be permitted entry into Gaza. He expressed gratitude to Egypt for its constructive involvement in facilitating humanitarian access via the Rafah crossing and making the El Arish airport available for essential aid.
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UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric further emphasized the necessity of safeguarding the civilian population, stressing the undesirability of witnessing a mass exodus of Gazans.
Egypt has been intensifying its efforts to address the situation in Gaza, as conveyed by Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi during a meeting with Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani. Discussions between Egypt and the US, Qatar, and Turkey have centered on the possibility of delivering humanitarian assistance via the Rafah crossing, located between Gaza and Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula, under the framework of a geographically restricted ceasefire. Turkey’s president mentioned that efforts to deliver aid had commenced, though details were not provided.
The Rafah crossing, the primary exit point from Gaza not controlled by Israel, has been closed since Tuesday following Israeli bombardments on the Palestinian side.
Egypt has issued repeated warnings this week regarding the potential displacement of Gaza residents onto Egyptian territory due to Israel’s offensive. Israel’s ambassador in Egypt, Amira Oron, clarified in a social media post that Israel has no intentions concerning Sinai and has not encouraged Palestinians to relocate there, emphasizing that Sinai is Egyptian territory.
Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry, after a meeting with Tajani, stated that Egypt was eager to reopen the Rafah crossing to provide humanitarian aid, food, and medicine. He also highlighted that instability and the escalation of the conflict could lead to increased hardship and a higher number of refugees seeking safety, potentially including Europe.
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