Egypt Wednesday renewed its rejection of Israel's plans to displace Gaza residents to Sinai and held Tel Aviv responsible for preventing the entry of humanitarian aid into the besieged enclave.
“Egypt firmly rejects Israel's plans to relocate Gaza residents to Sinai,” Egypt's Al-Qahera news channel reported, quoting a high-level source.
“Egypt will not allow Israel's ambitions to be realized in Palestinian territories at its expense,” the source stressed, adding: “Israel must review Egypt's accumulated aid shipments at the Kerem Shalom crossing, which exceed 500 trucks, before accusing Egypt of preventing aid from entering the enclave.”
He clarified that “statements by some Israeli officials that the problem lies in Egypt not allowing Gaza residents to enter its territories confirm Israel's intentions and plans to relocate Palestinians to Sinai, which Egypt firmly rejects.”
Regarding a cease-fire between Israel and Hamas, the source said: “Egypt's mediation role came after continuous requests. Egypt is surprised by attempts by some parties to deliberately undermine Egyptian efforts to reach a cease-fire in Gaza."
More than 35,700 Palestinians have been killed, mostly women and children, and nearly 80,000 others injured since last October following an attack by the Palestinian group Hamas.
More than seven months into the Israeli war, vast swathes of Gaza lay in ruins amid a crippling blockade of food, clean water and medicine.
Israel is accused of genocide at the International Court of Justice, which has ordered it to ensure that its forces do not commit acts of genocide and take measures to guarantee that humanitarian assistance is provided to civilians in Gaza.
