Presidency Spokesman: Egypt rejects politicizing file of humanitarian aid in Israeli war on Gaza

CAIRO – 9 February 2024: Egypt rejects politicizing the file of humanitarian aid in the Israeli war on the Gaza Strip and also rejects using of the humanitarian situation as a tool of war, said Egypt’s Presidential Spokesman Ahmed Fahmy said in comments to Al Qahera News on Friday.

He added that since the outbreak of the crisis in Gaza, Egypt has been conducting intensive contacts with all parties to exercise restraint, prevent escalation.

The Presidential Spokesman continued that Egypt’s role was very clear in opening the Rafah border crossing around the clock.

“It was impossible for aid to enter the Gaza Strip due to the bombing on the other side of the crossing and once the bombing ended, the crossing was repaired and equipped for bringing trucks,” he said.

Presidential Spokesman added that from the first moment, Egypt has an utmost interest in providing relief to the Palestinians, and rejecting displacement.

“The entry of aid for 2.3 million Palestinians in the Gaza Strip represents a top priority for Egypt,” he continued.

Fahmy’s comments came in response to US President Biden’s claims that Egypt refuses to open the Rafah border crossing.

President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi highlighted the “alignment of stances and the persistent joint efforts and close cooperation between Egypt and the United State of America” regarding Gaza.

The similarity of Egypt’s and the U.S. positions lie in a ceasefire, humanitarian truces, the prompt entry of sufficient amounts of aid, and the “categorical rejection of any forced displacement,” according to a Friday statement by the Egyptian presidency.

Egypt provides 80% of the total aid delivered to Gaza.

Rafah border crossing has been open throughout the war, but Israel’s bombardment on the Palestinian side of the border has prevented a sufficient flow.

Egypt has worked tirelessly to deliver the aid from a crossing designed for people only. It has also coordinated with numerous entities to ensure Gaza’s access to aid and a sufficient volume of supplies.

As Egypt has exerted immense efforts to deliver aid and persuade international parties to send more aid, other efforts have been exerted on Egypt to stop the aid.

Egypt has also organized visits by international officials to Rafah crossing to witness the scale at which the country works to ensure the entry of aid at a swift pace to catch the intervals without border strikes.

Egypt used several strong adjectives to describe its position on delivering aid and achieving a ceasefire in Gaza, such as “unequivocal, unwavering, and unshakable commitment.”

Egypt deals with the tragedy in Gaza with “utmost urgency” to protect civilians under “the most severe and harsh humanitarian catastrophe imaginable” and to save them from shelling, hunger and disease.

Egypt also reiterated that endeavors to displace Palestinians “are doomed to fail.”

The only solution is one of a two-state, where an independent Palestinian state is established along the June 4, 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital.