Israel Closes Gazas Rafah Crossing Amid Ongoing Attacks on Iranian Targets

Israel Closes Gaza’s Rafah Border Crossing with Egypt

The Israeli government has announced that it is closing Gaza’s Rafah border crossing with Egypt until further notice. The decision was made amid joint Israeli-US attacks on Iran. According to the Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT), several security adjustments have been implemented, including the closure of the crossings into the Gaza Strip.

The Rafah crossing, located on Gaza’s southern border, had reopened only last month, allowing a limited number of Palestinians to leave for the first time in months. The crossing is considered vital for the delivery of humanitarian aid and the evacuation of critically ill patients. However, the Israeli government claims that sufficient food has entered Gaza since the start of the ceasefire to meet four times the nutritional needs of the population.

COGAT stated that the closure of the crossings will have no impact on the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip. The organization will remain in contact with the international community and provide updates on any developments. Critics argue that COGAT functions as an instrument of surveillance and control, particularly in enforcing movement restrictions and closures.

The Rafah crossing had previously reopened to allow patients in urgent need of medical care to leave the territory. The closure of the crossing is likely to exacerbate existing shortages of medicines, reconstruction materials, food, and water inside Gaza. The United Nations reported in February that it continued to face impediments in delivering lifesaving aid to Gaza.

Source: Al Jazeera