Gaza border authority source denies reports of Rafah crossing storming

CAIRO - 16 February 2024: An official from the General Authority for Crossings and Borders has denied news reports and claims on social media about the alleged storming of the Rafah border crossing.

According to the source, a group of displaced Palestinians near the Rafah crossing on the Palestinian side set car tires ablaze in front of the main gate in Rafah city.

They then assaulted trucks transporting food aid destined for the Gaza Strip, added the source.

Palestinian police patrols were dispatched to the site to control the situation and secure the aid trucks.

Global pressures on Israel are mounting as it plans an offensive in the city of Rafah, which falls on the Egypt-Gaza border and which is the last safe haven for Palestinians in the strip.

The anticipated Israeli attacks will likely lead to further exacerbation of the humanitarian situation in the strip, with Rafah hosting more than half of Gaza’s population, who have been displaced from other areas due to Israeli military activities.

Egypt has voiced its full rejection of the planned Israeli operation, calling for uniting all international and regional efforts to prevent the attacks against the city.

Cairo has repeatedly voiced rejection of Israel’s “systematic policy” of attempting to displace the Palestinians outside their lands, including to Sinai.