WEST BANK: In a clear stance, Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh declared on Monday that Palestine firmly rejects any attempt by Israel to transfer or replace the Rafah border crossing, the crucial link between the Gaza Strip and Egypt.
During a government session, Shtayyeh maintained that the matter of the Rafah crossing is exclusively a Palestinian-Egyptian concern and dismissed any Israeli intervention in its relocation. The rejection comes in response to reports from Israeli Channel 13, suggesting that the Israeli government is considering moving the Rafah border crossing to the Kerem Shalom area.
The proposed relocation aims to establish control over the crossing, preventing Cairo from having a role in its management, according to the Israeli channel. The Rafah border crossing holds immense significance as the sole entry point between Egypt and the Gaza Strip.
Egypt Rejects Israeli Bid to Relocate Rafah Crossing
Israeli media also reported that Egypt has conveyed strong messages to Israel, making it clear that any spillover of Palestinian refugees from Gaza to Sinai would endanger the existing peace agreement between the two nations.
The backdrop of these developments includes Israel’s recent offensive on Gaza, launched after an October 7 attack by Hamas. According to reports, at least 27,365 Palestinians have been killed, 66,630 injured, and a large portion of Gaza’s population displaced. Additionally, the enclave faces acute shortages of food, clean water, and medicine, with 60% of its infrastructure damaged or destroyed, as per the United Nations.
