News of the opening of the Rafah border crossing made headlines recently, with the head of Egypt’s State Information Service, Diaa Rashwan, responding to allegations made by Israel at the International Court of Justice in The Hague regarding this border crossing.
In a telephone interview with Al-Qahera News television channel, Rashwan assured that the Rafah crossing is permanently open, but that the siege imposed by Israel on Gaza prevents the entry of humanitarian aid.
“Israel should allow aid to enter through the Rafah crossing directly into the Gaza Strip, to the north and south,” he said.
Rashwan explained that because Israel obstructs the transfer and inspects the aid at the Kerem Shalom border crossing, and transfers it into Palestinian cars, Egyptian trucks are forced to go directly to Kerem Shalom, then transport it directly into parts of Gaza, without unloading it into Palestinian trucks for faster access.
Israel’s ‘confusion’
The Israeli Prime Minister has told the world that Israel is the victim, and the Israeli defense team at the International Court of Justice is doing the same, but there is great confusion in the Israeli media, Rashwan noted.
He said the reason is the trial before the ICJ, because it is the first time that Israel is accused before an international court, and not a local, Arab or regional court.
Israel and its senior officials have emphasized the need to blockade Gaza and prevent the entry of any essential aid, particularly fuel, he noted, but they now recognize that cutting off aid and blocking of Gaza are negative.
Rashwan stressed that Israel cannot shirk its crimes by blaming Egypt, as there are six other crossings, in addition to the Rafah crossing and the Philadelphia corridor that opens into Egypt, all on the Israeli side – the main commercial artery, from which Israel drew 300 million dollars.
He went on to say that if Israel claims that Egypt is closing the Rafah crossing, then it should open its own crossings.
Palestinians pay for every grain of rice that enters their homes, he added.