Egypt says eager to keep Rafah crossing open to deliver aid to Gaza

By Ibrahim Khazen

ANKARA (AA) – Egypt said Wednesday it is eager to keep the Rafah crossing with the Gaza Strip open to deliver humanitarian aid to the territory.

"Our Palestinian brothers are enduring immense hardships due to the lack of basic services amidst the ongoing Israeli bombardment,” Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry said in a joint press conference in Cairo with his Italian counterpart Antonio Tajani.

The Rafah crossing is the only terminal between the Gaza Strip and Egypt.

Shoukry said Cairo is holding contacts with Israel, Hamas and international partners “to contain the crisis and mitigate the humanitarian impact on civilians in Gaza.”

“Egypt has been resolute in keeping the Rafah crossing open to facilitate the delivery of humanitarian aid and will persist in providing all necessary humanitarian support to the Palestinian people,” he added.

On Wednesday, the UN refugee agency UNRWA warned that the Gaza Strip will face a humanitarian catastrophe if safe corridors are not opened up for aid.

"The Gaza Strip will witness an unprecedented humanitarian catastrophe if safe corridors are not opened for the arrival of humanitarian aid, including medical supplies, food, and water," Adnan Abu Hasna, spokesman for the UNRWA, told Anadolu.

On Tuesday, the Hamas-run Interior Ministry said Israeli warplanes struck again of the gates of the Rafah crossing with Egypt.

In a dramatic escalation of Mideast tensions, Israeli forces have launched a sustained and forceful military campaign against the Gaza Strip, a response to a military offensive by the Palestinian group Hamas in Israeli territories.

The conflict began when Hamas initiated Operation Al-Aqsa Flood against Israel, a multi-pronged surprise attack including a barrage of rocket launches and infiltrations into Israel via land, sea, and air, which Hamas said was in retaliation for the storming of the Al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied East Jerusalem and Israeli settlers’ growing violence against Palestinians.

In response to Hamas' actions, the Israeli military launched Operation Swords of Iron against Hamas targets within the Gaza Strip. Israel's response has extended into cutting water and electricity supplies to Gaza, further worsening the living conditions in an area that has reeled under a crippling siege since 2007.

More than 2,300 people have been killed in the current bout of violence, including at least 1,100 Palestinians and 1,200 Israelis.

*Writing by Rania Abu Shamala.