Egypt denies all allegations on collecting fees from travelers at Rafah crossing from Gaza

CAIRO – 10 January 2024: Diaa Rashwan, head of Egypt’s State Information Service, denied allegations circulated by some media outlets regarding the fees collected on travelers through the Rafah crossing border from Gaza Strip to Egypt.

Rashwan denied firmly any allegations of the collection of any additional fees on those coming from Gaza, as well as the allegations of any unofficial entity charging any financial compensation for crossing into Egyptian territory.

Rashwan explained that what is being collected by the authorities is only the fees determined in accordance with the Egyptian laws regulating the operation of the crossing border

Rashwan added that since the beginning of the entry of relief and humanitarian aid and fuel to the Palestinian people in Gaza through Rafah crossing border, Egypt’s contribution to it is no less than 70%, which currently reaches more than 150 trucks daily, including 6 fuel trucks.

‏Therefore, “it is not logical that Egypt, while doing all this effort in order to alleviate the suffering of the Palestinian people , would seek to add any burdens on them while they are in these disastrous circumstances, as some have been trying to promote during the recent period “.

The head of the Information Service explained that, as part of Egypt’s duty towards the Palestinian cause and the Palestinian people, it did not collect any fees from them after entering the country, whether for treatment or residence, or even during their movements within the country and until some of them traveled abroad

Rashwan stressed that Egypt has definitively refused, since the beginning of the Israeli aggression on Gaza, to respond or yield to all economic and financial pressures and temptations, to accept the liquidation of the Palestinian cause or the forced displacement of the Palestinian brothers outside or inside their lands, in exchange for any financial facilities.

Rashwan said that what is being promoted by some parties on this regard is completely inconsistent with the firm Egyptian stance that rejects ‘trading with the Palestinian brothers or their cause’.

Rashwan appealed to all Palestinian brothers, in case they were subjected to blackmail or pressure at the Rafah crossing, from anyone profiting from their case, to immediately notify the Egyptian security authorities present at the crossing, to take decisive and immediate legal measures against those responsible for these violations.