Closed since May for the bombings of Israelthe passage of Rafahthe border between the strip of Loop and Egypt. Via of entry of humanitarian aid, its reopening was contemplated in the high agreement … the fire signed by Israel and Hamaswhich arrived on Saturday in the middle of its first phase of six weeks. That night, after the release of the kidnapped women and the fourth exchange of Israeli hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners, by Rafah’s crossing, the first wounded and sick left to be treated in Egyptian hospitals. In total, there were 34 children and three women, accompanied by 39 relatives. His evacuation took a whole day for the bureaucracy and the usual paperwork in these cases, as already happened in November 2023 with the repatriation of the Palestinians with dual nationality that could leave the strip fleeing from the war.
While continuing the truce, Rafah’s crossing prepares for humanitarian aid and more Palestinian patients who need urgent medical assistance. But Egypt will not allow an exodus of Palestinian refugees, as the president of the United States has suggested, Donald Trumpto “clean gaza.”
This is explained to ABC the governor of the Sinai Norte, Khaled Megawerin a visit to the passage of Rafah, which is closed to foreigners and the press and which can only be accessed on trips organized by the Egyptian government. «President Trump has dropped this idea and has said that he will talk to our president. Egypt’s response is clear: we reject it because the Palestinian cause would be lost and it is unfair to move people from one land to another under any circumstance. We completely reject it. On Friday, in this place, thousands of people who came from all parts of the Egyptian territory demonstrated to say that we reject this idea and leave the Palestinians in their land. We will help them with all means, but it is not acceptable to transfer them from one land to another, ”says the governor, a general who also directs the military intelligence service.
Despite the transfer of Palestinian patients, it makes it clear that “no one can stay in Egypt unless he has a permission for a specific reason. The reason why these people come to Egyptian territory is to be treated in hospitals and help them, and then they will return to their country ». The Egyptian government wants to avoid what happened during the first months of the war, when it received 800 injured to be cured in their hospitals and some are still in the country. With the closure of Rafah’s customs in Gaza in May last year, after being occupied by the Israeli army, 690 Palestinians, many of them patient’s companions, have stayed in Egypt. “As soon as we have the opportunity to reopen the passage to citizens, they will be sent back to Gaza,” announced the governor. On this occasion, it is estimated that in Gaza there are some 12,000 injured and sick who need medical attention abroad. Of these, 2,500 are children.
Khaled Megawer also denies that the new buildings recently raised on the border with Gaza are to host the Palestinian refugees. «No, no, no… this is the new city of Rafah. In fact, I attended his opening ceremony on the second day of the high fire agreement. I have read in some media that we are building some cities for the Palestinians, to bring them from the Gaza Strip to here, but that is not so, ”he explains. As detailed, this new population is due to the security zone of 14 kilometers wide and six long that Egypt has drawn on the border with Gaza, where “Before there was 4,000 tunnels” that connected with the north of Sinai and were used by Hamas to arm themselves. «The people who lived there have moved to the new Rafah, it is not for the Palestinians. There was a great celebration and has come out in all means to explain to the international community that This city is not for the Palestiniansbut for the people who lived in that containment zone, ”says the governor.
Expressing the opinion of his government, presiding over the general To the sisihe insists that the solution to the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians is “very simple: the two states.” In spite to your own country. «We have had many wars against Israel. Who could imagine that Egypt was going to sign an agreement with Israel, the treaty of Camp David, in 1979? It has been in force for more than fifty years, we live in peace and they live in peace. Nothing is impossible. But we have to take the agreement very seriously this time, ”he recommends.
Precisely, that, a war, is what Egypt wants to avoid, and also Jordanwith his refusal to accept Palestinian refugees. In addition to reminding the ‘Nakba’ (‘Catastrophe’) of 1948, in which hundreds of thousands of Palestinians had to flee their peoples by losing the first war against Israel, it would mean extending the conflict to Egyptian territory. Armed groups would arise again that would attack the Hebrew army and he would respond directly against Egypt, even aggravating the tension in the always convulsive The Middle East.
After the reopening of Rafah’s passage thanks to the high fire between Israel and Hamas, humanitarian aid trucks return to this border crossing between Egypt and Gaza, such as the one that Ibrahim Soleiman carries loaded with potatoes (superior image). Although less than a year ago, queues are formed to enter Gaza and some drivers have been waiting for five days (up left). The governor of the Sinai Norte, Khaled Megawer (up to the right), opens the crossing of Rafah so that between food and water and the wounded and Palestinian sick leave, but will not allow a refugee exodus.
While the truce and the exchange of Israeli hostages are followed by Palestinian prisoners, about 300 humanitarian and fuel aid trucks enter Rafah every day. From this cross, all these transports must travel another five kilometers along the Egyptian border to the customs of Kerem Shalom or 40 more kilometers until the control of Al Awja (Nitzana)where they are inspected by the Israeli authorities. His drivers also oppose the exodus of up to a million and a half of Palestinians suggested by the US president. One of them is Ibrahim Solaimanwho comes from the governorate Sharqia And he has been waiting for three days to carry his cargo of potatoes to Gaza.
«Honestly, Trump or any other country can say what they want. We are with our president. What our president decides, we will be with him. But, as the people of Egypt, our opinion is clear: we will attend to any Palestinian or Arab as a visitor or guest. But displacement? No. While our president says no to displacement, then it’s no. We support the President to the SISI. If they come as guests, they are welcome with open arms. Displacement? No, ”the question settled with forcefulness.
Both he and his young assistants and other truckers, who transport potatoes and oranges, are opposed to the exile of the Palestinians. The Arab countries are planted in Trump: Humanitarian aid and assistance to the wounded and Palestinian sick, yes; Refugees, no.
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