Israel and Egypt argue over the closure of the Rafah border amid a worsening humanitarian crisis

Israel asserted that its control over the Rafah crossing is justified by security concerns, noting Hamas’s incapacity to uphold law and order.

Amidst the worsening situation in Gaza, Israel and Egypt are at odds over the closing of the Rafah border crossing, with both accusing the other of being responsible for the ongoing embargo.

The recent takeover of the Gaza side of the bridge by Israeli forces has heightened tensions between the two countries. Israel Katz, the country’s foreign minister, expressed worries to Germany and the UK while highlighting how urgent it is to convince Egypt to reopen the crossing.

Egypt has quickly retaliated, blaming Israel’s military actions in the region for the assistance bottleneck. Cairo said that Israel was trying to shift the blame for the grave circumstances.

Israel, for its turn, has claimed that security considerations justify its control over the border and that Hamas’s incapacity to uphold law and order emphasizes the need for Israeli supervision.

Sameh Shoukry, Egypt’s foreign minister, rejected Israel’s arguments and firmly blamed Israel for the humanitarian crisis. Shoukry pleaded on Israel to carry out its duties as the occupying force by allowing humanitarian aid to pass through the land ports under its control.

Due to Israel’s military entry into the region, about 450,000 Palestinians have left Rafah in the last week under the backdrop of this border dispute. In order to address the deteriorating situation, UN Secretary-General António Guterres demanded an urgent ceasefire and the reopening of the Rafah crossing. He also denounced the Israeli military’s increase in military activities.

International uproar has been sparked by the drastic restriction of humanitarian access to Gaza caused by the closure of the Rafah and Kerem Shalom borders. The US, the UN, and humanitarian organizations have all pushed Israel to guarantee the continuous entry of aid into the region.

Egypt, citing Israel’s increased military operations in Gaza and their effects on civilians, has announced its support for South Africa’s action against Israel at the International Court of Justice as tensions rise.

Israel continues its military operations in Rafah in defiance of warnings from friends. Residents have been told to move to approved areas by the Israeli military due to concerns about a potential ground offensive that would cause a large number of civilian casualties.

The attack by Hamas on southern Israel in October of last year set off a deadly spiral of warfare that claimed thousands of lives on both sides and is the origin of the current conflict.

The international world is under increasing pressure to mediate a ceasefire and attend to the pressing humanitarian needs of Gaza’s populace as the situation quickly worsens.