Egyptian quarantine doctors conduct medical examinations for foreign passport holders after their arrival at the Rafah crossing from Gaza, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Palestinian terroristgroup Hamas in Rafah, Egypt November 1, 2023 in this handout picture courtesy of the Egypti
(photo credit: The Egyptian Health Ministry/Handout via REUTERS)
Published November 6, 2023
On Monday, the border authority said that no one who was not on one of the lists would be allowed through, citing Egyptian authorities.
The Gazan border authority said on Monday that Egyptians and foreigners already on pre-approved lists will be allowed to enter Egypt after the Rafah border crossing had been closed for two days.
The only entry into Gaza not controlled by Israel had opened to foreign nationals and dependents as well as injured Gazans beginning on Wednesday.
However, humanitarian activity ceased on Saturday after an Israeli strike on an ambulance in Gaza last week, Egyptian officials said. The flow of aid trucks, which also enter through the crossing has slowed, Egyptian sources say.
Three Egyptian security sources said that Egypt was seeking guarantees for the safety of ambulances used for evacuations, including escorts from the International Committee of the Red Cross.
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SOURCE: https://m.jpost.com/breaking-news/article-771933
RELATED: Rafah crossing to re-open to limited number of evacuees
Family members carry their luggage as Palestinians, including foreign passport holders, wait at Rafah border crossing after evacuations were suspended following an Israeli strike on an ambulance, in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip, November 5, 2023. REUTERS/Ibraheem Abu Mustafa/File Photo Acquire Licensing Rights
Published November 6, 2023
The Gazan border authority said on Monday that Egyptians and foreigners already on pre-approved lists will be allowed to enter Egypt after the Rafah border crossing had been closed for two days.
The only entry into Gaza not controlled by Israel had opened to foreign nationals and dependents as well as injured Gazans beginning on Wednesday.
However, humanitarian activity ceased on Saturday after an Israeli strike on an ambulance in Gaza last week, Egyptian officials said. The flow of aid trucks, which also enter through the crossing has slowed, Egyptian sources say.
Three Egyptian security sources said that Egypt was seeking guarantees for the safety of ambulances used for evacuations, including escorts from the International Committee of the Red Cross.
Two security sources said Egypt was also seeking to increase the amount of aid flowing into Gaza, including fuel, which Israel has thus far refused to allow.
“Any effort to get convoys of ambulances carrying wounded to Rafah crossing must be accompanied by ICRC and UN vehicles to protect them and so they don’t get bombed as happened with the last convoy,” said the Hamas-run government media office.
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SOURCE: https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/gaza-border-authority-says-rafah-crossing-open-only-listed-egyptians-foreigners-2023-11-06/
RELATED: The Gaza-Egypt Rafah crossing explained: ‘It is not a normal border’
For Gaza’s two million residents, the Rafah border with Egypt serves as a vital lifeline. Over the years, this crossing has seen numerous shifts, openings, and closures, prompting the construction of illicit tunnels beneath it to facilitate the flow of people and goods. As the war between Israel and Hamas persists, the Rafah border now plays a crucial role in evacuations and the delivery of humanitarian aid.
A man sits near the gate to the Rafah border crossing with Egypt in the south of the Gaza Strip on November 3, 2023. © Said Khatib, AFP
Published November 3, 2023
What is the Rafah border crossing?
Often referred to as a lifeline for people in Gaza, the Rafah border allows Palestinians living in the war-torn enclave to have a vital connection to the outside world and essential resources. It’s located along the 12km border that divides the Gaza Stripfrom Egypt.
The Rafah border is one of two main crossings for inhabitants of Gaza. While Rafah is located in the south of the Strip, another crossing called Erez is located in the north at the Israeli border. Rafah is thus the only crossing that isn’t directly controlled by Israel.
Rafah is controlled by Egypt, but Israel monitors all activity in southern Gaza from its Kerem Shalom military base, found at the junction between Gaza, Israel and Egypt, and other surveillance points.
“Theoretically, Rafah should be controlled by the Palestinian and Egyptian authorities,” says Lorenzo Navone, a sociologist specialised in borders and conflicts at the University of Strasbourg who has carried out significant research on the crossing. “But Israel still has influence over the crossing.”
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SOURCE: https://www.france24.com/en/middle-east/20231103-the-gaza-egypt-rafah-crossing-explained-it-is-not-a-normal-border
