As the conflict between Israel and Hamas enters its tenth day with no ceasefire in sight, the foreign ministers of Egypt and France have jointly called for the immediate opening of the Rafah border crossing to facilitate the delivery of humanitarian aid and the safe departure of foreign nationals from the beleaguered Gaza Strip.
French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna emphasized the urgency of the situation, stating, “Those who want to leave Gaza must be able to do so,” and urged the opening of crossing points.
The Rafah border crossing, controlled by Egypt, remains the only gateway in and out of Gaza that is not under Israeli authority.
This call comes despite a previous announcement that Egypt and Israel had reached an agreement allowing American citizens to exit Gaza through Rafah.
However, Egypt’s Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry expressed concerns regarding the ongoing humanitarian crisis and reiterated Egypt’s request for Israeli authorities to allow the passage of essential aid.
Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office, in response, stated that there is currently no ceasefire in place, and humanitarian aid in Gaza is not contingent on the removal of foreign nationals.
As of Monday afternoon, the Rafah border crossing remained closed, leaving convoys of aid stranded on one side of the border and both Palestinian residents and foreign nationals seeking refuge on the other.
This situation highlights the growing humanitarian concerns in Gaza, where Israel has imposed a “complete siege,” severely limiting access to basic necessities for its 2.4 million inhabitants.
Since the outbreak of hostilities on October 7, Israeli airstrikes have resulted in the deaths of approximately 2,808 people in Gaza, which was a response to a Hamas attack that claimed the lives of 1,400 people in Israel, according to official reports.
The United Nations has repeatedly voiced alarm about the dire humanitarian conditions in Gaza, with an estimated one million people displaced within the territory. Catherine Colonna emphasized the need to protect civilians and meet their essential needs in the midst of the ongoing conflict.
In diplomatic efforts to address the crisis, Colonna announced that France “welcomes Egypt’s initiative” for an international summit on the matter, aiming to provide a political horizon that addresses both Israel’s security concerns and the Palestinians’ right to a state.
Egypt, historically a key mediator between Israeli and Palestinian officials, is under growing pressure as calls for it to accept refugees from Gaza have been rejected.
Instead, Egypt has urged restraint and diplomatic de-escalation, warning against a new wave of forced displacement for the Palestinian people.
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