Israel Has Taken Control Of Gaza’s Rafah Crossing To Egypt, Blocking Humanitarian Aid From Entering
On May 7, Israel’s military said it had gained “operational control” of the Rafah crossing to Egypt, claiming that the crossing was being used for “terrorist purposes”.
The Israeli military has taken control of Gaza’s Rafah crossing with Egypt after Israel’s war cabinet rejected a ceasefire proposal that Hamas had agreed to and began its full ground invasion of Rafah.
On Tuesday May 7, Israel’s military said it had gained “operational control” of the Rafah crossing to Egypt, claiming that the crossing was being used for “terrorist purposes”.
Footage released by Israeli outlet Yediotnews on Telegram showed a tank bulldozing a “I Love Gaza” sign on the Palestinian side of the border crossing.
Another video showed Israeli forces removing a Palestinian flag flying at the crossing and replacing it with the Israeli flag.
The Rafah crossing is the only land border crossing between the Gaza Strip and Egypt that is not directly controlled by Israel.
Located on the southern border of the Gaza Strip, it is a crucial lifeline for the two million Palestinians living in Gaza.
The crossing is vital for allowing the entry of humanitarian aid and has been the “lifeblood” for the small amounts of aid entering Gaza since Oct. 7.
With Israel taking control of the border, this means the Gaza Strip is now completely cut off from the rest of the region and the world.
Shipments of crucial aid supplies to Gaza through the Rafah crossing and Kerem Abo Salem crossing have been stopped.
Israel has already begun its full-blown invasion of Rafah, having ordered more than 100,000 Palestinians trapped in east Rafah to evacuate to an area in al-Mawasi refugee camp, west of Khan Younis, which Israel has completely destroyed.
Israel killed at least 35 Palestinians and injured 129 others, in the past 24 hours in Rafah.
Cherry Mohamed
Kassy Cho
Kassy Cho
