Monday October 16, 2023
Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry listens to his French counterpart Catherine Colonna during a joint press conference at the Egyptian foreign ministry headquarters in Cairo, Egypt, on October 16. Amr Nabil/AP
Egypt's Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry said there has been no progress in efforts to open the Rafah crossing between Egypt and Gaza on Monday.
Speaking at a press conference with his French counterpart, Shoukry blamed Israel for the continued closure of the crossing.
"The Israeli government has not yet taken a position that would allow the crossing to be opened from the Gaza side, allowing the entry of aid or the exit of citizens from third countries," he said.Egypt supports the opening of the crossing and that aid vehicles were standing by for permission to cross, Shoukry said.
"Egypt has been working since the beginning of this crisis and escalation to have the crossing open and allow the entry of humanitarian aid. A large number of it has been gathered in El-Arish," he said.
Five empty UN petrol trucks are now waiting at the Gazan side of the Rafah crossing, hoping to cross over and refuel in Egypt, a Palestinian official responsible for the Rafah crossing told CNN on Monday.
The Israeli prime minister’s office denied Monday there are any arrangements for the opening of the Rafah border.