US Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced on Sunday that the Egyptian-controlled Rafah border crossing into Gaza is poised to reopen. The United States is collaborating with Egypt, Israel, and the United Nations to facilitate the delivery of much-needed assistance.
For several days, hundreds of metric tons of aid from various countries have been held up in Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula, pending an agreement for its secure transport to Gaza and the evacuation of foreign passport holders through the Rafah crossing.
“Egypt has provided substantial material support for the people in Gaza, and Rafah will soon reopen. We are working in conjunction with the United Nations, Egypt, Israel, and other stakeholders to establish the necessary mechanisms for aid delivery,” Blinken stated during a press briefing.
Egypt has intensified its diplomatic efforts to resolve the impasse, while Israel has urged Gazans to move south in anticipation of an expected ground invasion. Hundreds of thousands have already heeded this advice, given the precarious situation in the enclave, which houses more than 2 million people. Meanwhile, Hamas, the governing authority in Gaza, has encouraged residents to disregard Israel’s evacuation recommendations.
