On the tenth day of the conflict between Israel and Hamas, the foreign ministers of Egypt and France called for the delivery of humanitarian assistance and the evacuation of foreign citizens from the besieged Gaza Strip.
French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna emphasised the need for enabling those who wish to depart from Gaza to do so, advocating for the reopening of border crossings.
The Rafah border crossing, the sole gateway in and out of Gaza not under Israeli control, is managed by Egypt.
An American official informed media on Saturday that an arrangement had been made for American citizens to depart through the Rafah crossing via an agreement between Egypt and Israel.
However, Egypt’s Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry stated on Monday that they had reiterated their request to Israeli authorities to allow the passage of humanitarian aid.
Shoukry expressed concern that there was “nothing new,” which is a matter of increasing concern given the growing needs of the Palestinian people in Gaza.
According to a statement from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office on Monday, there is currently no ceasefire agreement that would involve providing humanitarian aid to Gaza in exchange for the evacuation of foreign nationals.
As of Monday afternoon, the crossing remained shut, trapping aid convoys on one side of the border and preventing both Palestinians and foreigners from leaving or entering, as reported by AFP correspondents and witnesses.
The United Nations has issued frequent warnings about the severe humanitarian crisis in Gaza, as Israel maintains a comprehensive blockade that has resulted in the deprivation of essential provisions for the 2.4 million residents in the territory.
Since October 7, Israeli airstrikes in Gaza have claimed the lives of approximately 2,750 people, in response to a Hamas militant attack that resulted in 1,400 deaths in Israel.
As per the United Nations, approximately one million people have been displaced within Gaza. French Foreign Minister Colonna emphasized the necessity to safeguard civilians and fulfill their basic requirements.
As diplomatic efforts yield limited progress, Colonna stated on Monday that Paris is supportive of Egypt’s proposal for an international summit on the conflict.
She expressed that such a summit would demonstrate the existence of a political framework that respects both Israel’s security rights and the Palestinians’ right to a state.
In 1979, Egypt became the first Arab nation to establish a peace agreement with Israel. Throughout history, Egypt has been a crucial mediator in discussions between Israeli and Palestinian authorities, notably during conflicts involving Hamas.
On Monday, Colonna emphasized that the burden of the conflict should not be placed solely on Egypt, which has been asked to accommodate refugees from Gaza.
Cairo has rejected the call, expressing concerns about the potential forced displacement of Palestinians and instead calling for restraint and diplomatic efforts to de-escalate the situation.
