Israel took over the Rafah Crossing between Gaza and Egypt last week, in order to make sure that Hamas could not smuggle in weapons through that route, and also to ensure that Hamas would not hijack aid shipments just after they came into Gaza. The Egyptians, however, displeased at the IDF’s move, decided to retaliate by preventing aid trucks from moving through the Rafah Crossing into Gaza altogether. What’s more, they rejected Israel’s request to let those aid trucks enter Gaza through the Kerem Shalom Crossing further north. More on this move that will only harm Gazans, and for which Egypt alone is responsible — but for which Israel is being blamed — can be found here: “Palestinian ‘strategist’ praises Egypt for blocking aid to Gaza,” Elder of Ziyon, May 14, 2024:
The New York Times reported on Friday that Egypt has refused to send aid through the Rafah crossing while Israel is there, and it has also refused to send the trucks backed up along that border to the Kerem Shalom crossing. This was to show displeasure at Israel’s operation in Rafah where they took over the Gazan [sic]
The story from the premier US newspaper has not been picked up by other news outlets. So US News, for example, reports it as “both sides blaming each other,” even though Egypt didn’t deny that it had closed the Rafah crossing from its side.
Both sides may be blaming each other, but US News and other media outlets failed to explain to their audiences that it was Egypt that had stopped all aid shipments through the Rafah crossing, had also failed to allow trucks backed up at Rafah to instead enter Gaza through the Kerem Shalom crossing, and, finally, that it was Israel that had implored the governments of the UK and Germany to persuade Egypt to allow in food and other humanitarian aid into Gaza either through the Rafah or the Keren Shalom crossings. Meanwhile, the world is blaming Israel for what Egypt alone has done and that Israel is trying to persuade it to undo.
It’s pretty clear that Egypt is the problem here. Israel is pleading with European governments to pressure Egypt to allow aid shipments to resume.
“The key to preventing a humanitarian crisis in Gaza is now in the hands of our Egyptian friends,” Israel’s Foreign Affairs Minister Israel Katz said in comments released by his office.
Katz said he had spoken with his British and German counterparts about “the need to persuade Egypt to reopen the Rafah crossing”, adding he would also speak with Italy’s foreign minister later on Tuesday.
The Palestinian militant group Hamas, which has governed Gaza, will not “control the Rafah crossing”, Katz said, citing security concerns over which Israel “will not compromise”.
The comments drew a swift and angry response from Egypt’s foreign ministry, which said Israel was responsible for the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and that Israel’s military operations in Rafah were the main factor blocking aid.
Egypt has been telling Gazans to go to hell for seven months, building a huge wall to keep Palestinians out and extracting bribes for the rich ones to escape – and ends up smelling like a rose in the eyes of the media.
But it gets even more Orwellian.
From Egypt’s Al Qahera News:
Palestinians (in Ramallah, naturally) are thanking Egypt for starving Gaza! They are “principled!”…
The PA is thanking Egypt for keeping aid from entering Gaza, as a way to punish the Israelis for taking control of the Rafah crossing. That is why the PA calls Egypt “principled.” Meanwhile, the Gazans are the ones paying the price, in food insecurity, for Egypt’s blocking of food trucks at the Rafah crossing.
So while Egypt refuses to let any aid into Gaza through the Rafah crossing, Israel has been pleading with it to reverse its decision, even asking European countries to intervene in an attempt to change Egypt’s mind. What’s more, the Israelis are also sending more aid into Gaza from the northern crossings. But it is Israel alone that is being blamed by the world’s media “for starving the people of Gaza.” Egypt’s preventing aid trucks from entering Gaza through the Rafah crossing is ignored.
A mad world, my masters!
SC says
In Islam political propaganda always mandates corpses and lies. And sometimes the corpses are just borrowed or recycled footage. I for one have no issues with famine and corpses in Gaza. They chose to stay. They chose a potetialy deadly option.
rick says
The reason that Egypt is so angry over Israel taking control of the Rafah Crossing between Gaza and Egypt has nothing to do with supporting Hamas or not supporting Hamas. It is simply the oldest reason of all. Money. Certain Egyptians and Hamas – on their side – make millions of dollars charging war weary Palestinians who want to leave Gaza. The minimum bribery price for a person to cross over is said to be $6,500. For a family of four that is $26,000. With people desperate to leave Gaza that translates to millions of dollars that go into the pockets of graft “entrepreneurs”. Hamas does the same thing on their end. Big money for the best operating business in Gaza. Both Egypt and Hamas would prefer to see civilians strave to death than allow Israel to be in control of the cash register. And what is worse is that Israel doesn’t charge people anything.
somehistory says
Not surprising.
OT: Police have identified the two mozlums who tried to drive a truck onto the marine base. They are Jordanian nationals.
Wellington says
So typical. Muslims act badly. Jews get blamed.
brenrod says
It appears obvious now that Egypt fhas been smuggling arms and tunnel materials into Gaza all along.
somehistory says
they are mozlums after all. And the Jews are their sworn enemy.