Title: Egypt to Reopen Gaza Border Crossing, Allowing Aid to Reach Palestinians
Date: October 15, 2023
CAIRO – US Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced on Sunday that Egypt would reopen the border crossing into Gaza, providing a much-needed lifeline for Palestinians in need of assistance. The United States, in collaboration with Egypt, Israel, and the United Nations, is working to ensure the safe delivery of aid through the border crossing.
Currently, hundreds of tonnes of aid from various countries have been stranded in Egypt’s Sinai peninsula as negotiations for safe passage to Gaza continue. The reopening of the Rafah crossing would not only allow aid to enter but also facilitate the evacuation of foreign passport holders.
Egypt has intensified its diplomatic efforts to break the impasse and ensure the flow of aid into Gaza. Secretary Blinken confirmed Egypt’s commitment to providing material support for the people in Gaza, emphasizing that the Rafah crossing would soon reopen.
“We are putting into place – with the United Nations, with Egypt, with Israel, with others – the mechanism by which to get the assistance in and to get it to the people who need it,” Blinken stated during a press conference in Cairo, following a fruitful discussion with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi.
Recognizing the urgent need for action, the United States appointed experienced diplomat David Satterfield as the Special Envoy for Middle East Humanitarian Issues to lead its response to the Gaza humanitarian crisis.
During their meeting, President al-Sisi critiqued Israel for responding disproportionately to the recent incursion by Hamas on October 7. He condemned the Israeli response, which he deemed as collective punishment for the entire population of Gaza, far exceeding the right to self-defense.
“The reaction went beyond the right to self-defense, turning into collective punishment for 2.3 million people in Gaza,” President al-Sisi expressed during a joint appearance with Secretary Blinken.
President al-Sisi further emphasized the importance of cooperation in fighting extremism while highlighting that historically, Jews had enjoyed freedom in the Middle East. He stressed that targeting of Jews had not occurred in Arab and Islamic countries as it had in other parts of the world.
Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry revealed that the Israeli bombardments targeting the Rafah crossing had significantly impeded its operability. Shoukry assured that if foreign nationals were allowed to cross the border, Egypt would provide the necessary support for their safe return.
Egypt strongly rejected any plan that displaces Palestinians to the disadvantage of other countries, reiterating that Egypt’s own security is a red line. Like other Arab states, Egypt demanded that Palestinians remain on their lands and confirmed its commitment to delivering aid.
To address the ongoing crisis, President al-Sisi proposed hosting a summit to discuss the situation and find lasting solutions.
As aid continues to accumulate, eight planes carrying assistance from Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, Jordan, Tunisia, and the World Health Organization have landed at Sinai’s Al Arish airport, with over 100 trucks waiting for permission to enter Gaza, according to the Egyptian Red Crescent.
The reopening of the Gaza border crossing brings hope for the people of Gaza as relief efforts are intensified to address the urgent needs of the population.
Reporting by Mohamed Waly, Omar Abdel Razek, Yusri Mohamed, Humeyra Pamuk, Hatem Maher, and Ahmed Tolba; Writing by Adam Makary, Nafisa Eltahir, and Aidan Lewis; Editing by Louise Heavens, Hugh Lawson, Andrew Cawthorne, and Giles Elgood