Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi has rejected accusations that Cairo is complicit in the blockade of Gaza, stressing that Israel controls the Rafah crossing and must approve any entry of aid.
President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi © ENS
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi has rejected accusations that Cairo is complicit in the blockade of Gaza, stressing that Israel controls the Rafah crossing and must approve any entry of aid.
Speaking during a visit to the Egyptian Military Academy on Friday, Sisi said Egypt is connected to Gaza by only 14 kilometers, while most crossings, including Karem Abu Salem, are under Israeli control. He added that Israeli forces’ presence in the Philadelphi Corridor has effectively shut down Rafah, despite Egypt repairing it four times after Israeli strikes.
Sisi dismissed calls to storm the crossing, warning that forcing aid through would amount to military action.
“Is Egypt required to enter a war as a result of developments in Gaza? No. We are only defending ourselves,” he said.
The president emphasized that Egypt remains committed to delivering humanitarian assistance to Palestinians but will not be dragged into direct confrontation.
“Accusing Egypt of blockading Gaza is a false narrative,” Sisi said. “Our goal is to provide aid and alleviate suffering, without endangering our people.”
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen proposed on Monday that the EU increase its support to Morocco to help prevent a repeat of the chaotic attempted influx of 50,000 migrants into the Spanish enclave of Ceuta last week.
Moroccan authorities granted provisional release to rapper El Mahdi Lyoubi, known by his stage name Mehdi Black Wind, after three weeks in detention. He remains under prosecution for "offending state institutions," his lawyers told AFP.
Migrants who swam or jumped over fences to rush into Spain's African enclave of Ceuta this week were returning home on Saturday, with many saying hunger, exhaustion and hostility from locals had crushed their hopes of a new life in Europe.
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