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Sameh Shoukry, Egypt’s international minister, shortly pushed again, saying that the crossing was nonetheless closed due to Israel’s management over it, and since its army operations have been placing truck drivers and support staff in peril. In an announcement from the Egyptian Foreign Ministry, Mr. Shoukry rejected what he described as “the coverage of twisting information.”
Israeli officers not often make public criticisms of Egypt, with which Israel maintains a decades-old peace treaty and delicate safety cooperation.
Defying worldwide strain, Israel launched a restricted invasion of Rafah on May 6, taking up areas within the east. Even if vans have been allowed to go by the Rafah crossing, it was not clear if they might safely navigate by japanese Rafah, the place Israeli forces have been combating Hamas militants.
Israel not too long ago opened two new routes for support vans to enter northern Gaza instantly.
“We’re additionally seeing actual progress within the north, the place extra is coming by,” Mr. Blinken mentioned. “But what we don’t wish to see is a scenario the place we principally reverse what’s occurred in current months.”
The Rafah crossing isn’t the one choke level for support. Since the Israeli incursion into Rafah, solely a small variety of vans have made it by Kerem Shalom, a close-by crossing between Israel and Gaza. Palestinians staff evacuated the crossing earlier than the arrival of Israeli forces, based on Wael Abu Omar, a spokesman for the Palestinian aspect of the crossing.
Israel has requested the Palestinian Authority to ship its workers to assist run the crossing, however not of their official capability, mentioned two Palestinian officers, who spoke on the situation of anonymity to debate messages exchanged between Israeli and Palestinian authorities.
The authority’s management swiftly rejected the proposal, mentioned the officers.
Mahmoud al-Habbash, a non secular affairs advise to Mahmoud Abbas, the president of the authority, mentioned that Israel wanted to withdraw from the crossing earlier than Palestinian Authority workers would take duty for working it.
“How can we work with Israeli tanks there?” he requested in an interview. “In phrases of precept, that’s unacceptable, to not point out the truth that could be harmful for Palestinians.”
The Ramallah-based Palestinian management, Mr. al-Habbash mentioned, would additionally should be reassured that the return of the authority to the Rafah crossing was a part of a broader effort to reintegrate the governing physique again into Gaza.
“We don’t reject steps being taken one after one other, but it surely should be recognized that the Rafah crossing is a part of Gaza, and an answer for the Rafah crossing is a part of the answer for Gaza, and the answer for Gaza is a part of the answer for all elements of the Palestinian state,” he mentioned.
In public statements, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has all however dominated out the authority returning to Gaza, a prospect supported by the United States.
Aaron Boxerman contributed reporting.
