Closures become norm for Rafah crossing
The closing of the Rafah crossing by Egypt following the terrorist attack in Sinai will worsen the humanitarian situation of Gaza residents, for whom the crossing is a lifeline to the outside world.
RAFAH, Gaza Strip — Since 2007, Gaza’s border crossing to Egypt has become like a gun pointed at Gazans. Its closing recurs throughout the year, sometimes under the pretext of Egyptian national security and other times due to Palestinian divisions and Hamas’ control over Gaza. As a result, it has become a card that Egyptians play whenever they want to put pressure on Gaza’s inhabitants, and it is adding to Gazans’ suffering, especially with the tight Israeli blockade.
The terrorist operation in Karm al-Qawadis in Sheikh Zuweid city, north of the Sinai Peninsula, on Oct. 24, which killed more than 30 Egyptian soldiers, happened on Egyptian territory, and most tunnels between Egypt and Gaza were closed. Despite this, the Egyptian government and media quickly accused the Gaza Strip and its factions of carrying out the attack. Once again, the citizens and the crossing were victims of the deteriorating security situation in Sinai after the death of the Egyptian soldiers.
Egyptian sovereign parties stated on the day following the attack that the Egyptian army started a military operation in Sinai to eliminate “terrorist hotbeds.” The operation would last between three to six months. Therefore, the crossing would be closed for a long time.
Said al-Tawil was affected by the crossing’s closing, as he was supposed to travel to Egypt a few days after the ambush of the soldiers to defend his master's thesis. However, the indefinite closing prevented him from going.
