Egypt Denies Agreement to Control Gaza Crossings
A senior Egyptian source has firmly denied reports suggesting that Egypt has agreed to participate with an Arab force to control the Gaza Strip crossings. The source emphasized that Israel is solely responsible for closing the crossings and the deteriorating humanitarian conditions in Gaza. The Cairo News Channel quoted the source stating, 'There is no truth to what some news sites are reporting regarding Egypt’s agreement to participate in a United Nations Arab force to control the crossings with the Gaza Strip.'
Israel’s Responsibility and the Humanitarian Crisis
According to the source, Israel is obstructing the exit of relief workers and the United Nations, effectively besieging the Gaza Strip and starving over two million Palestinians. The source added, 'Israel seeks to hold Egypt responsible for its aggression against the Gaza Strip and its occupation of the Palestinian Rafah crossing. If it wishes to open the crossing, it must withdraw from it and stop its military operation there.'
Since May 7, Israel has controlled the Palestinian side of the Rafah border crossing between Egypt and the Gaza Strip, prompting Cairo to suspend coordination regarding it to not legitimize its occupation. The Gaza Strip is currently experiencing a severe humanitarian crisis due to Israel's closure and disruption of the crossings, with international estimates suggesting that Gaza may face famine by mid-July.
The ongoing Israeli war on Gaza, which started on October 7, has resulted in over 122,000 Palestinian casualties, including women and children, with nearly 10,000 people missing amid widespread destruction and famine. Despite two UN Security Council resolutions and orders from the International Court of Justice demanding an immediate cessation of hostilities, Israel continues its military operations.
In a related development, Egyptian sources reported new details from Chief of Staff Hertzi Halevi's meeting in Bahrain. The meeting, which included senior officials from Egypt, Jordan, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, and the US Army Central Command, focused on three main issues: implementing an early warning network regarding drones and ballistic missiles from Iran and its allies, securing Red Sea shipping routes, and promoting ways to end the war in Gaza.
During the meeting, Egypt's representative highlighted that ending the war in Gaza would help mitigate other regional crises and prevent the conflict from expanding. Cairo expressed willingness to participate as an Arab force under the UN umbrella in certain areas of the Gaza Strip, conditional on a complete IDF withdrawal. The force's role would be temporary and limited to securing crossings and maritime points until a Palestinian government takes control.
The Egyptian representative also stressed that Egypt would not engage in any security or military measures against regional countries, including Iran. Moreover, peace in the Red Sea was linked to the cessation of the Gaza conflict, which would prevent further escalation with the Houthis.
- The ongoing conflict and humanitarian crisis in Gaza have drawn international attention and condemnation. Various international organizations and human rights groups have called for immediate action to alleviate the suffering of the Palestinian population.
- The situation remains tense, with diplomatic efforts continuing to find a resolution. The international community is closely monitoring the developments, urging both Israel and Hamas to agree to a ceasefire and engage in meaningful dialogue to end the violence and address the underlying issues.
