Egypt denies allegations by Israeli defense team bought to UN court regarding Rafah crossing

By Ahmed Asmar

ANKARA (AA) - Egypt denied Friday allegations by Israel brought to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) that Cairo is responsible for preventing the entry of humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip through the Rafah border crossing.

Diaa Rashwan, head of the Information Service (SIS), said what the Israeli defense team relayed to the ICJ about the crossing was lies.

He said in a statement that Israeli top officials have confirmed many times "since the start of the aggression on Gaza that they will not allow aid to enter the Gaza Strip, particularly fuel because this is a part of the war that their state is waging against the Strip."

Rashwan noted Egypt’s "sovereignty extends only to the Egyptian side of the Rafah crossing, while the other side of it in Gaza is subject to the actual (Israeli) occupation authority."

He reiterated that Egypt on several occasions has stressed that "the Rafah crossing from the Egyptian side is open without interruption," and repeatedly urged Israel "not to prevent the flow of humanitarian aid to the Strip."

A two-day hearing of South Africa’s genocide case against Israel at the ICJ in The Hague ended Friday.

On day one of the trial, South Africa presented hard evidence in the case it filed Dec. 29, accusing Israel of genocide and violations of the UN Genocide Convention with its actions in the Gaza Strip since Oct. 7.

South Africa is requesting an injunction by the top UN court to halt Israel's military assault on Gaza, which has dragged on for more than three months.