December 5, 2025 | 11:14 am
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Egyptian government denies Israel's claim that the Rafah Crossing will be opened only to allow Gaza residents to exit to Egypt.
As reported by TRT World, the Egyptian State Information Service on Wednesday, December 3, 2025, stated, "If an agreement is reached to open the crossing, it will be in both directions, to enter and exit Gaza, in accordance with the plan of US President Donald Trump."
The State Information Service also reaffirmed Cairo's commitment to the plan and UN Security Council Resolution 2803, including the right of return for Palestinian residents. According to The New Arab report, Egyptian authorities reject any unilateral steps that do not comply with the political and humanitarian arrangements after the ceasefire.
Denial of Israel's Statement
Previously, COGAT, the Israeli Ministry of Defense body responsible for civil affairs in the Palestinian territories, announced that Rafah would be opened in the coming days only for the departure of Gaza residents to Egypt.
The statement was said to follow the mechanism that was previously implemented in January 2025 under the supervision of the European Union Border Assistance Mission.
However, two European diplomats told AFP that they had prepared to open Rafah on October 14 following a similar announcement, but the reopening was postponed.
A Palestinian official interviewed by The New Arab also dismissed Israel's claim. He stated that the Palestinian authorities had not received any official notice regarding the arrangement for the reopening.
"What Israel has announced bears no relation to reality, and there are no signs on the ground that the crossing will actually open in the near future," he said. He regarded Israel's statement as merely symbolic, not to meet the urgent needs of Gaza residents.
Aid Still Far from Sufficient
Egypt had previously called for Rafah to be opened for humanitarian assistance, in accordance with the plan facilitated by the United States. The aid waiting on the Egyptian side is now redirected through Kerem Abu Salem. Although the agreement stipulates around 600 trucks per day crossing, a UN source in Cairo mentioned that currently only about 100 trucks per day are crossing.
Most of the cargo consists of food. Meanwhile, aid such as tents, medical equipment, and other necessities are still being rejected or delayed. The World Food Program (WFP) noted that while some Gaza households reported a slight improvement in food access in November, the overall supply remains insufficient.
Read: EU Embraces Authoritarian Egypt for Help on Gaza, Migration
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