Differences still exist between Cairo and Tel Aviv over the issue of numbers, as thousands of Palestinians await the reopening of the Rafah border crossing between the Gaza Strip and Egypt to allow aid to enter and to treat the injured.
Israeli officials have revealed that there is a difference of opinion between Egypt and Israel over the number of people entering and exiting the Rafah crossing, which is scheduled to open in both directions next Sunday, Israeli authorities’ broadcaster reported today (Thursday).
“Israel wants the number of departures to be higher than the number of arrivals, but the Egyptian side insists on the same ratio and fears a quiet attempt to encourage immigration from Gaza,” the source reported. Sources noted that attempts are being made to resolve these differences between Cairo and Tel Aviv.
The crossing’s opening date remains uncertain, with some Israeli officials predicting it will open next Sunday, while others suggest it may open on Thursday.
Hundreds of thousands of Palestinians living in the Gaza Strip have been exhausted by two years of Israeli attacks on the stricken strip and faced long-term restrictions on movement and monitoring of their internet activity and phone communications by Israeli watchdogs.
Occupation forces have forced Gaza’s roughly 2 million residents to live in a narrow coastal strip from which Israeli forces have withdrawn under the first phase of a cease-fire agreement sponsored by US President Donald Trump.
In the second phase, the plan provides for the start of reconstruction of the Gaza Strip from Rafah and the disarmament of Hamas in exchange for a further withdrawal of Israeli forces from the Strip.
Thousands of Palestinians are waiting for the reopening of the Rafah border crossing between the Gaza Strip and Egypt for relief efforts and treatment of the wounded, but disagreements between Cairo and Tel Aviv remain over the number.
Israeli sources have revealed that there is a dispute between Egypt and Israel over the number of people entering and exiting the Rafah crossing, which is scheduled to open in both directions next Sunday, the Israeli broadcast authority reported today (Thursday).
“Israel wants more migrants to leave Gaza than people entering the country, but the Egyptians insist on an even ratio, fearing quiet attempts to encourage migration from Gaza,” the officials said. Officials noted that attempts are underway to resolve these differences between Cairo and Tel Aviv.
The crossing’s opening date remains uncertain, with some Israeli officials predicting it will open next Sunday, while others suggest it could open on Thursday.
Hundreds of thousands of Palestinians living in the Gaza Strip have been exhausted by two years of Israeli attacks on the besieged area and face years of restrictions on movement and monitoring of their online activities and phone communications by Israeli watchdogs.
Occupation forces are forcing more than 2 million Gaza residents to live in a narrow coastal strip from which Israeli forces have withdrawn under the first phase of a cease-fire agreement sponsored by US President Donald Trump.
The second phase plan provides for the start of reconstruction of the area from Rafah and the disarmament of Hamas in exchange for further withdrawal of Israeli forces from the area.
