UPDATE - Egypt urges Israel to halt airstrikes on Rafah border crossing with Gaza

UPDATES WITH STATEMENT BY EU'S BORRELL, CHANGES DECK

By Ahmet Gencturk and Ikrame Imane Kouachi

ATHENS/ ISTANBUL, (AA) — Egypt urged Israel on Thursday to avoid attacking the Rafah border crossing with the Gaza Strip to allow for repairs and restoration after Israeli airstrikes affected operations on the Palestinian side.

“Rafah border crossing is open and has not been closed since the start of the ongoing escalation,” a Foreign Ministry spokesman wrote on X.

“However, its facilities on the Palestinian side have been destroyed due to Israeli airstrikes, which affected its operations.”

He said: “Egypt calls Israel to avoid targeting the Palestinian side of the crossing point, to allow the repair and restoration.”

The statement encouraged the international community, governments and non-governmental organizations to provide humanitarian aid to Palestinian civilians in Gaza as part of their humanitarian moral responsibility in response to the suffering under continuous Israeli airstrikes, according to the statement.

It also said Egyptian authorities dedicated the El Arish International Airport to receive humanitarian aid for the Gaza Strip.

In a related development, EU foreign policy chief Joseph Borrell voiced support for Cairo's call to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza via the El Arish Airport near its border with the enclave.

"I welcome and support Egypt’s call to deliver much needed international humanitarian aid via El Arish airport and its announcement that the Rafah crossing remains open and operational, including for humanitarian aid and emergencies," he said on X.