The head of the UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), Philippe Lazzarini, has just stated that Israel’s war in Gaza is a humanitarian crime, condemning Israeli forces’ targeting of civilians in the strip.
According to Al Qahera News, Lazzarini also stated that the Rafah border crossing has never once been closed from the Egyptian side during the ongoing conflict.
Last week, Egypt’s State Information Service Head Diaa Rashwan refuted claims made by the Israeli defense team in front of the International Court of Justice that Egypt is to blame for the blockade of relief and humanitarian supplies entering the Gaza Strip through the Rafah crossing.
He stressed that since the beginning of the Israeli aggression on Gaza, all Israeli officials, particularly the Prime Minister, the Minister of Defense, and the Minister of Energy, have repeatedly stated in public statements that they will not allow aid, particularly fuel, to enter Gaza. He went on to say that this proves the Israeli claims’ inconsistency and falsity.
When confronted with evidence of these crimes, the occupying power turned to accuse Egypt in an attempt to avoid being found guilty by the International Court of Justice. Egypt’s sovereignty extends only to the Egyptian side of the Rafah crossing, while the other side is subject to the occupation authority, Rashwan added.
Egypt has urged Israel to stop obstructing or delaying aid entry under the tired excuse of inspecting it, as well as preventing humanitarian aid from reaching the Gaza Strip. According to Rashwan, Egypt has made these announcements numerous times in official statements, beginning with the President, the Foreign Ministry, and all parties involved.
During the week-long humanitarian truce talks in Gaza, which included Egypt, Qatar, and the United States, the Israeli side demonstrated extreme intransigence in deciding how much aid would be allowed, according to Rashwan.
In light of Israel’s ongoing intention to obstruct aid entry at the Karm Abu Salem crossing, Egypt has assigned Egyptian trucks with Egyptian drivers to enter Gaza Strip territory directly after inspection and distribute aid to its residents, rather than transferring it to Palestinian trucks, according to Rashwan.
Gaza’s Ministry of Health stated that Israeli attacks in the last 99 days have killed 23,843 people and injured 60,317 others. The majority of those killed are women and children.
According to the ministry, Israeli forces committed 12 massacres against Palestinian families in the Gaza Strip in the last 24 hours, killing 135 people and injuring 312.
