Egypt tells Biden "Israel" blocking aid into Gaza
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The Egyptian presidency has denied a claim made by Biden in which he said that Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi initially did not want to open the crossing to allow the entry of humanitarian aid.
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An Egyptian truck carrying humanitarian aid undergoes investigation by Israeli occupation forces before entering the southern Gaza Strip, on January 22, 2024 (AFP)
The Egyptian presidency has responded to comments made by the US President Joe Biden on Friday. Egypt has affirmed continued cooperation between both countries regarding reaching a ceasefire in Gaza and ensuring humanitarian pauses in the war.
Egypt reaffirmed its ongoing commitment to "Middle Eastern peace, security, and stability," as well as its role in delivering humanitarian assistance to Gaza.
The statement emphasized Egypt's rapid and unconditional opening of the Rafah crossing, notwithstanding the hurdles caused by Israeli occupation bombardment. Egypt's tireless efforts to organize assistance distribution and exert pressure on key parties were highlighted, stressing Egypt's humanitarian relief leadership.
Furthermore, Egypt reaffirmed its commitment to establishing a cease-fire in Gaza, protecting people, and spearheading humanitarian assistance. It underscored the futility of attempts to remove Palestinians and pushed for a two-state solution for long-term peace.
Egypt stressed that it had also “facilitated and coordinated the visits of international and UN officials to the crossing to inspect from the ground the tremendous efforts made by the Egyptian authorities in this regard," concluding the statement detailing that any effort to displace the Palestinian people will fail and reiterated Egypt stands firm in its belief for a two-state solution and the establishment of an independent Palestinian state on the 1967 borders.
The Egyptian statement came in response to the US President's statements in which he said that Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi initially did not want to open the crossing to allow the entry of humanitarian aid. Biden claimed he convinced Sisi to open the crossing, as well as spoke to Netanyahu to open the crossing from the Israeli side.
Israeli occupation aircraft launched raids on Rafah, south of Gaza, this morning martyring eight Palestinians, at least three of whom are children, and injuring others.
As a result of the IOF bombing houses and residential apartments in Rafah, demolishing them with Palestinians still inside, five members of the Al-Sayyid family and three others of the Al-Nahhal family were martyred.
In the town al-Zawayda, IOF raided a kindergarten-turned-shelter, murdering at least four and injuring others, according to medical sources, with the injured being taken to Al-Aqsa Hospital in Deir al-Balah.
US State Department deputy spokesperson Vedant Patel on Thursday said that the US will not be supportive of "Israel's" planned offensive in Rafah city in Gaza, noting that such a development would prove disastrous as it lacks "serious credible planning".
This comes as the Israeli military is currently preparing to invade the city of Rafah in Gaza's far south, where more than one million Palestinians have sought refuge. After failing to agree on concessions proposed by Hamas for a ceasefire, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to continue the war until the unrealistic goal of eliminating the resistance is reached.
