What is the Rafah border crossing that seems to be the last hope for Gazans

Almost two weeks have passed since then Israel declared war on Hamas, the Palestinian militant group that attacked Israeli territory last Saturday, October 7. The Gaza Stripwhere 2.4 million Palestinians live and where Hamas operates, is under constant siege by the Israeli bombingswhich works in retaliation.

More than 2,750 people are reported to have been killed in the Gaza Strip as a result of Israeli bombing. Given the situation, and encouraged by Israel, thousands of Palestinian families have been evacuated from their home and have moved to Gaza’s southern border, looking for a way to leave the area.

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Palestinians wait to leave via the Rafah border crossing

He The Rafah crossinga border area with Egyptcould be the only hope for Palestinians trying to flee. Israel controls Gaza’s bordersand before the war it had two crosses: Erezthat is for the movement of people, and Kerem Shalomfor merchandise.

Israel decides who can enter and exit both border crossings, but has completely blocked the border with the Gaza Strip due to the war. Therefore, no goods or supplies can enter the region.

Israel bombs the southern Gaza Strip, where thousands of Palestinians were waiting to be evacuated

Israeli authorities have already refused to open their side of the border with Gaza, so moving towards Egypt is what thousands of Palestinians are trying to do. But Egypt has assured that it will not let them pass through the Rafah crossing because it does not want refugees to enter its territory, despite the insistence of the United States.

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What the Egyptian authorities are asking is that Israel allow them to open the Rafah crossing, only to then hand it over humanitarian help, which has also stalled due to a lack of access to Gaza. In accordance with cn, There are dozens of trucks at the Egyptian border waiting for permission to enter the Gaza Strip.

Egyptian media have indicated this The doors of Rafah would open on Friday so the trucks can come in.

Referring to “sources”, the channel AlQahera News He states that “Rafah will open tomorrow” Friday, without giving more details. On Wednesday evening, US President Joe Biden said he had received a commitment from his Egyptian counterpart that “up to 20 trucks” would exceed that step.an insufficient grade according to the World Health Organization.

How the Rafah crossing works

According to figures from the United Nations (UN), an average of 27,000 people crossed the Egyptian border every month until July this year. The Rafah border crossing is not directly controlled by Israel, but by Egypt.

Until 2005, the Rafah crossing was controlled by Israel, just as the country also controlled Gaza.

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When Israel withdrew from the Gaza Strip, the European Union was responsible for managing the border crossing until 2007, when the Hamas group emerged. Since, The border crossing at Rafah is closely guarded for both Israel and Egypt.

Not everyone can cross that side. Palestinians need a special permit if they want to use the border crossingand obtaining them can take several months.

Egypt fears that its territory will be somehow affected by allowing the Palestinians to pass freely.

What is the reason for the war between Israel and Palestine?

“Of course we sympathize. But be careful, even if we sympathize, we must always use our minds to achieve peace and security in a way that does not cost us much,” the President of Egypt said. Abdel Fattah el-Sision whether to open the Rafah border crossing. (JO)