In response to statements by the Israeli Foreign Minister demanding the reopening of the Rafah crossing and blaming Egypt for preventing a humanitarian crisis in Gaza, Sameh Shoukry, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, reiterated Egypt’s firm rejection of Israel’s policy of distorting facts and evading responsibility. He emphasized that Israel bears sole responsibility for the humanitarian disaster currently facing Palestinians in Gaza.
The Minister condemned Israel’s control over the Palestinian side of the Rafah crossing, Israeli military operations around the crossing, and the resulting endangerment of relief workers and truck drivers. These factors are the main reasons for the inability to deliver aid through the crossing.
The Minister strongly denounced Israeli attempts to shift responsibility for the unprecedented humanitarian crisis in Gaza to Egypt. This crisis is a direct result of Israeli indiscriminate attacks against Palestinians for over seven months, resulting in the deaths of over 35,000 citizens, most of whom are women and children.
Egypt views this serious escalation as threatening the lives of over a million Palestinians who rely on this crossing as a vital lifeline for Gaza, allowing the safe exit of the wounded and sick to receive treatment and the entry of humanitarian and relief aid.
Egypt called on the Israeli side to exercise maximum restraint and avoid brinkmanship policies with far-reaching effects, which could jeopardize the arduous efforts to reach a sustainable ceasefire in Gaza. It also called on influential international parties to intervene and apply necessary pressures to defuse the current crisis, allowing diplomatic efforts to achieve their desired outcomes.
