Israel hinders humanitarian aid entry to Gaza by occupying Rafah border crossing for 4th day in a row: Hamas

CAIRO- 10 May 2024: For the 4th day in a row, the terrorist Zionist occupation cuts off the only remaining lifeline of the Gaza Strip with its aggression against the city of Rafah and the occupation of the Rafah border crossing, said member of the political bureau of Hamas Ezzat El Rishq in a statement on Friday.

He added: “Israel prevents the arrival of humanitarian aid to more than 2 million Palestinians, and endangers their lives and the lives of the wounded and sick by preventing their travel for treatment.”

Delegations of Hamas and Israel left Cairo, Thursday following a two-day round of negotiations.

According to a high-ranking source, the Egyptian efforts along with other mediators' efforts are continuing to bring the two parties' viewpoints closer, especially in light of the recent developments in Gaza Strip.

The Gaza ceasefire talks resumed in Cairo on Thursday with the participation of all parties, a source told Al Qahera News.

With the participation of the Palestinian factions of Hamas, Islamic Jihad, and the Popular Front, the ceasefire negotiations were announced to address the points of disagreement between Hamas and Israel.

The Palestinian Ministry of Health in Gaza announced on Thursday that Israel has killed 34,904 Palestinians and injured 78,514 since October 7.

Further, Israeli forces launched on May 6 a limited ground operation in the Palestinian city of Rafah despite the international warnings, especially those by Egypt, Jordan and the United States of America. This operation resulted in closing the only operating border crossings of Rafah and Karam Abu Salem and, consequently, suspended the entry of humanitarian aid to the besieged Palestinians.

On May 6, the Hamas movement informed the Egyptian and Qatari mediators of the movement’s approval of the Egyptian proposal on a ceasefire agreement in the besieged Gaza Strip.

The movement’s approval came after intensified efforts made by Egypt and other international parties to contain the situation and prevent escalation when the Israeli army called on residents east of Rafah city in the Gaza Strip to evacuate the area immediately ahead of the ground offensive against the city.