Egypt is refusing to coordinate with Israel on matters concerning the Rafah border crossing due to the ongoing military escalation by Israel, an anonymous source told AlQahera News on 11 May. The anonymous source also conveyed that Egypt notified all relevant parties about Israel’s accountability for the worsening humanitarian situation in Gaza. Egypt’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Sameh Shoukry, cautioned against potential security repercussions stemming from Israeli operations in Rafah during a phone call with United States Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, on 10 May. Shoukry also highlighted that over 1.5 million Palestinians, mostly displaced individuals, currently reside in Rafah –– entailing that Israel’s military operation would lead to a humanitarian catastrophe. WHAT HAPPENED IN RAFAH? On the morning of 7 May, The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed that its tanks and ground troops were now in control of the Gazan side of Rafah Crossing. Israel’s decision to invade Gaza’s southernmost city was seen as imminent by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu since the beginning of the war on Gaza. Rafah was initially one of the final safe zones for displaced Palestinians looking to flee from the Israeli airstrikes that…
Egypt Refuses Rafah Crossing Coordination with Israel After Escalation: Reports
May 12, 2024
