Arabic → English transcript

The Rafah crossing,

or Gazans’ only gateway to the outside world.

The land crossing is located in the south of the Gaza Strip specifically at the far

south of Rafah governorate on the Palestinian– Egyptian border.

And although it is no longer officially under Israel’s control after

the crossings agreement signed between it and the Palestinian Authority in 2005,

it has long exerted pressure,

directly or indirectly,

to control its opening and closure and the lists of those crossing through it.

Before the war,

the Rafah crossing

formed a vital

passage for goods and people,

but it was mainly designated for the movement of individuals.

In addition, it is the corridor for goods and humanitarian aid into the Strip,

from food supplies and basic items to medicines and medical equipment.

But under the Israeli war on the Strip,

the crossing

turned into a besieged

lifeline and into

a tool of Israeli pressure.

The entry of aid through it stopped completely

after the occupation army took control of its Palestinian side,

which led to the worsening of the humanitarian catastrophe in the Strip.

For Palestinians today,

the continued closure of the Rafah crossing represents a worsening of the suffering

of thousands of sick and wounded people who need treatment outside the Strip.

It also means more starvation and

deprivation because emergency aid trucks are being prevented from entering.

As for Israel, it links its permission to open the crossing to receiving the body

of the last Israeli captive in Gaza.

It also insists on continuing to close it as part of a comprehensive siege policy,

despite international

demands to open it to save more than two million Palestinians.