Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty has restated Egypt’s rejection to the Israeli military presence in the Philadelphi Corridor and the Palestinian section of the Rafah crossing, labeling this presence as having “political objectives.”
During a ministerial meeting focused on the Palestinian cause and the two-state solution hosted by Madrid, Spain, Abdelatty emphasized that Israel’s positioning in these areas is designed to obstruct the legitimate return of the Palestinian authority to Gaza.
He condemned these actions as efforts to sabotage the mediation endeavors led by Egypt, Qatar, and the United States aimed at achieving a ceasefire and a prisoner exchange agreement.
Furthermore, Abdelatty highlighted that this Israeli presence has resulted in a slowdown in the flow of humanitarian aid into Gaza.
He underscored Israel’s use of hunger as a weapon against Palestinians while refusing to fully operate its crossings with Gaza to facilitate aid delivery in accordance with its legal obligations as an occupying f
orce.
Rafah, Philadelphi takeover
Since May, Israel has taken control of the Palestinian part of the Rafah crossing, leading to the obstruction of the main point for aid distribution, along with the Philadelphi Corridor, a buffer zone on the Egypt-Gaza border.
Senior Egyptian sources have consistently expressed opposition to Israel’s control of these regions. Nevertheless, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has remained steadfast in maintaining Israeli presence in the corridor to prevent alleged weapon smuggling.
Netanyahu’s unwavering stance regarding the Philadelphi Corridor has impeded a ceasefire agreement, a move that has been urged by the international community and by families of captives detained in Gaza since the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7.
Continued pressure
Recent days have witnessed increasing widespread protests in Israeli cities, particularly following the deaths of six captives, including an American, in Gaza.
Protesters and families of captives have demanded a prisoner r
elease agreement before it is too late for their loved ones.
Hamas has reiterated its willingness to accept a ceasefire agreement that would stop the Israeli war, enable the return of displaced Gazans to their homes, ensure the complete withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza, and enhance aid distribution efforts.
Egypt, the United States, and Qatar have escalated their mediation efforts to bridge the gaps between Hamas and Israel, with Cairo and Doha hosting rounds of indirect ceasefire negotiations between the two parties.
Source: State Information Service Egypt
