A high-level Egyptian source revealed on Sunday that Cairo has intensified its communications with Israel and Palestinian factions in recent hours to revive stalled negotiations for a Gaza ceasefire.
According to the source, Egypt is working to “overcome obstacles facing the ceasefire agreement.”
Additionally, Egypt denied any approval for relocating the Rafah border crossing or building an alternative crossing, amid its rejection of Israeli military presence on the Palestinian side of the crossing.
A senior Egyptian security source stated, “There is absolutely no Egyptian approval for relocating the Rafah crossing or constructing a new one near the Kerem Shalom crossing.”
The source emphasized Cairo’s insistence on the complete withdrawal of Israeli forces from the Palestinian side of the Rafah crossing.
Earlier, Egypt had announced its refusal of Israeli presence on the Palestinian side of the Rafah crossing, asserting that it would not legitimize Israeli control over it.
In May, Diaa Rashwan, head of the State Information Service under the Egyptian presidency, told Sky News Arabia that Israel’s control over the Palestinian side of the Rafah crossing is “unjustified.”
He added, “Cairo has firm principles regarding the crossing and rejects legitimizing Israeli control over the Palestinian side. Egypt will not cooperate with such control.”
