The Gazan Exodus: Unveiling Cairo's Reluctance to Open its Borders

Egypt is under increasing pressure to take action as nearby Gaza suffers from Israeli airstrikes following the recent attack on Israel by Hamas over the weekend.

Following the Hamas attacks, Israel took the step of shutting down its two border crossings with Gaza and implementing a comprehensive blockade on the region, obstructing the flow of fuel, electricity, and water supplies. Consequently, the Rafah crossing, which connects Gaza to Egypt, remains the sole feasible option for both human evacuation and the transportation of essential goods into the area. However, it remains uncertain whether this particular crossing is currently operational.

According to a senior Jordanian official, the Egyptian side of the crossing is currently open, whereas the Palestinian side is "non-functional" due to recent Israeli airstrikes. The official stated on Thursday that both Jordanians and Egyptians are awaiting security clearance from Israelis to ensure a safe passage for aid trucks, without the risk of another airstrike.

Israeli tanks from an artillery unit are seen near Israel's border with the Gaza Strip, in southern Israel, October 12, 2023. REUTERS/Ronen Zvulun

Ronen Zvulun/Reuters

Israel-Hamas conflict continues as the number of Palestinian fatalities in Gaza increases due to ongoing attacks. Egypt's foreign ministry dismissed claims that the crossing has been shut, stating that it has been affected by Israeli airstrikes on the Palestinian side. CNN was unable to verify the status of the crossing independently.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced on Wednesday that the Biden administration is currently engaging in discussions with Israel and Egypt regarding the establishment of a humanitarian corridor, aiming to provide a safe passage for civilians. However, Egypt expresses concerns over the potential influx of hundreds of thousands of Palestinian refugees into its borders. The Gaza Strip, a heavily populated coastal area experiencing intense Israeli airstrikes, is home to over two million Palestinians.

The Israeli military has issued an overnight evacuation order for residents in northern Gaza, urging them to move southwards. This comes as they gather 300,000 reservists on the border, indicating a potential ground incursion. The UN has highlighted that this would result in the displacement of 1.1 million people, a task deemed "impossible" to accomplish within 24 hours. Following the attack on Israel on Saturday, which claimed the lives of 1,300 individuals, the retaliation against Hamas has resulted in the deaths of 1,799 in Gaza. With the escalating attacks, human rights organizations have raised concerns over the possibility of a humanitarian catastrophe.

We sympathize

Addressing a military graduation ceremony on Thursday, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi drew a parallel between the current state of affairs in his nation and a solitary house engulfed in flames within a neighborhood. Dismissing false rumors, he affirmed that Egypt is actively committed to extending support to its Palestinian counterparts.

"We are ensuring the delivery of aid, both medical and humanitarian, to the strip during this challenging period," stated Sisi with an empathetic tone. However, he cautioned that Egypt's capacity to assist has certain constraints.

"Although we sympathize, it is important to exercise caution. While maintaining understanding, we must employ rational thinking to ensure the attainment of peace and safety without incurring excessive costs," he cautioned, highlighting that Egypt currently accommodates 9 million migrants. According to a 2022 report by the UN's International Organization for Migration, the major migrant populations in the country originate from Sudan, Syria, Yemen, and Libya.

On Friday, Egypt's foreign ministry strongly criticized Israel's evacuation plea, deeming it "a severe violation of international humanitarian law" that would jeopardize the lives of over 1 million Palestinians.

The Jordanian official informed CNN on Thursday that diplomatic and political pressure is being exerted by Jordanian and Egyptian officials on the Israeli government, urging them to permit the safe transportation of aid into Gaza via the Rafah crossing.

A plume of smoke rises in the sky over Gaza City during an Israeli airstrike on Monday.

Mahmud Hams/AFP/Getty Images

Israel is currently engaged in a conflict with Hamas. Here is an update on the situation:

On Thursday, a plane carrying essential medical supplies destined for Gaza arrived from Jordan in the Egyptian city of Arish, which is located approximately 45 kilometers (23 miles) away from Rafah. The aid was subsequently loaded onto trucks belonging to the Egyptian Red Crescent. However, these trucks have not yet been able to proceed towards the border due to ongoing circumstances.

Egyptian media outlets have raised concerns about the potential consequences of admitting Palestinian refugees into the country, cautioning that it could result in the displacement of Gazans into Sinai against their will. Sisi echoed these concerns on Thursday, emphasizing the significant danger that Gaza faces if such a scenario were to occur. He emphasized the importance of the Palestinian people in Gaza staying rooted on their own land and maintaining their presence and resilience.

King Abdullah of Jordan, who held a meeting with Blinken on Friday, cautioned against any effort to remove Palestinians from their territories or forcibly displace them. Currently, the majority of Gaza's population consists of Palestinian refugees who were displaced from areas that came under Israeli control during the 1948 Arab-Israeli war. This war resulted in the establishment of Israel, but it is considered a tragedy by Palestinians, referred to as the Nakba or "catastrophe," as over 700,000 Palestinians were expelled from or compelled to leave their homes in what is now Israel.

Gaza became a safe haven for tens of thousands of Palestinians following the war, as it came under Egyptian control. Israel, who had taken over the territory from Egypt in the 1967 war and started establishing Jewish settlements, eventually withdrew its troops and settlements in 2005.

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