Egypt rejects Israeli proposal for joint coordination to reopen Rafah

Egypt has rejected an Israeli proposal for joint coordination to reopen the Rafah crossing between Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula and the Gaza Strip, along with managing its future operation, Reuters reported, citing Egyptian security sources.

Israeli officials from the Shin Bet security service introduced the plan during a visit to Cairo on Wednesday amid heightened tensions between the two sides following the recent Israeli aggression on the city of Rafah in southern Gaza and the occupation of the main Rafah crossing with Egypt.

The crossing has historically served as a vital conduit for humanitarian aid entering Gaza and as an exit point for medical evacuees. Egypt insists that the crossing should be managed solely by Palestinian authorities.

Throughout the week, Cairo and Tel Aviv have exchanged accusations regarding the closure of the border crossing and the consequent hindrance of humanitarian aid to the besieged Gaza Strip.

Egypt stressed that the closure of Rafah is solely due to the Israeli military operation, repeatedly cautioning that the Israeli offensive seeks to empty Gaza and forcibly displace Palestinians into the North African country.

The spokesperson for the Israeli occupation government, David Mencer, claimed on Wednesday that Egypt had turned down an Israeli request to open the Rafah crossing to Palestinian civilians seeking to exit the besieged Gaza.

A high-ranking Egyptian official confirmed during the weekend that Cairo has lodged protests with “Israel”, the United States, and some European governments over the Israeli aggression on Rafah, warning that the Israeli violation puts at high risk Egypt’s normalization treaty with “Israel” (Camp David Accords), AP reported.

Egypt’s state-owned Al Qahera News television channel also reported that Cairo has declined to cooperate with Tel Aviv regarding aid delivery through the Rafah crossing due to what it deems as the “unacceptable Israeli escalation.”

The channel cited a senior Egyptian official as saying that Cairo holds “Israel” accountable for the deteriorating situation in the Gaza Strip.