On the tenth day of the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip, the foreign ministers of Egypt and France have jointly called for the immediate delivery of humanitarian aid and the safe evacuation of foreign nationals from the war-torn region.
The French Foreign Minister, Catherine Colonna, emphasized the urgent need to open crossing points, stating, “Those who want to leave Gaza must be able to do so.” The Rafah border crossing, controlled by Egypt, stands as the sole passage in and out of Gaza not under Israeli jurisdiction.
In a recent development, a U.S. official announced on Saturday that Egypt and Israel had reached an agreement allowing American citizens to depart Gaza through the Rafah border, according to AFP reports.
However, Sameh Shoukry, Egypt’s Foreign Minister, disclosed on Monday that Egypt had reiterated its request to Israeli authorities for the passage of humanitarian aid. He expressed concern, saying, “There is nothing new, which is a dangerous matter considering the new needs that the Palestinian people in Gaza are being exposed to.”
In response, the office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu released a statement on Monday, asserting, “There is currently no ceasefire and humanitarian aid in Gaza in return for removing foreigners.”
By Monday afternoon, the Rafah crossing remained closed, leaving humanitarian convoys stranded on one side of the border and Palestinians and foreign nationals seeking safety on the other, as reported by AFP.
The United Nations has consistently warned about the dire humanitarian crisis in Gaza, where Israel has imposed a comprehensive blockade, severely restricting essential supplies to the 2.4 million residents.
Since October 7, Israeli airstrikes have claimed the lives of approximately 2,750 individuals in Gaza, launched in response to a Hamas militant attack that resulted in the deaths of 1,400 people in Israel.
According to the United Nations, one million people in Gaza have been displaced within the territory, and Minister Colonna stressed, “Civilians must be protected, and their essential needs must be met.”
Amid limited diplomatic progress, Minister Colonna announced on Monday that Paris “welcomes Egypt’s initiative” for an international summit to address the ongoing conflict. She noted that such a summit would “demonstrate the presence of a political horizon that takes into account Israel’s right to security and the Palestinians’ right to a state.”
Egypt, which signed the first peace treaty with Israel in the Arab world in 1979, has historically played a pivotal role in mediating between Israeli and Palestinian authorities, especially during conflicts involving Hamas.
Minister Colonna stressed that “the burden of this conflict should not rest solely on Egypt,” as the nation has been urged to accept refugees from Gaza. Egypt, however, has rejected this appeal, advocating for restraint and diplomatic efforts to de-escalate the situation.