CAIRO, Jan 11 (NNN-MENA) – Egypt, yesterday, denied allegations that, additional fees are collected at the Rafah border crossing, from personnel coming from the besieged Palestinian enclave of the Gaza Strip.
“Only the official fees stated by the Egyptian laws governing the operation of the Rafah border crossing, established by the Land Ports Authority, are collected, and no increase has been applied,” said a statement issued by Egypt’s State Information Service (SIS).
Egypt categorically “refuses to trade the Palestinian brothers or their cause … in exchange for any financial relief,” SIS Chairman, Diaa Rashwan, was quoted by the statement as saying.
The Rafah crossing between Egypt and Gaza had served as the only gateway for relief supplies into Gaza, before Israel reopened its Kerem Shalom border crossing in Dec, last year, to fast-track the delivery of aid supplies to the enclave.
Gaza has been under a massive Israeli military campaign against Hamas since Oct 7, which has killed 23,357 Palestinians – mostly women and children – and injured 59,410 others, according to data released by Gaza’s health ministry yesterday.– NNN-MENA
