Officials from Egypt, Israel, and the United States are scheduled to meet on Sunday in Cairo to discuss the reopening of the Rafah crossing in Gaza, as reported by Egypt’s Al-Qahera News TV channel.
Egypt has affirmed to all parties its stance on not reopening the Rafah crossing as long as its Palestinian side remains under Israeli control, according to a high-ranking security source. The source stated that Egypt holds Israel responsible for the closure of the crossing and the worsening humanitarian conditions in Gaza, emphasizing Egypt’s demand for a complete Israeli withdrawal from the crossing.
The Rafah crossing, situated between Gaza and Egypt, has been closed since May 7, when the Israeli army announced it had imposed control over the Palestinian side. This crossing is the primary gateway for transporting injured individuals and patients for treatment abroad, as well as delivering humanitarian and relief assistance into the enclave.
Since October 7, 2023, Israel has been conducting a large-scale offensive against the Hamas movement in the Gaza Strip. According to health authorities in Gaza, this conflict has resulted in the death of more than 36,000 Palestinians, following an unprecedented attack by Hamas on southern Israel that killed about 1,200 people.