CAIRO/RAFAH — Egyptians urged the swift reopening of the Rafah crossing on Wednesday, calling it a lifeline for besieged civilians in Gaza, as the Israeli military confirmed it carried out fresh airstrikes in a Palestinian town along the border with Egypt.
Under the first phase of a US-mediated ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, Israel was slated to reopen Rafah to allow large aid deliveries. Instead, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the crossing would remain closed “until further notice,” adding that any reopening depends on Hamas handing over the bodies of deceased hostages.
The stance drew frustration across Cairo, where residents framed Rafah’s reopening as a humanitarian imperative. “This is the wish of all Egyptians for the past two years, for the borders to be opened,” said Jada, a Cairo resident. “We wish that aid will enter Gaza and we wish for this humanitarian crisis to end.” Another resident, Maryam, said, “They are our brothers, or like our family. And we will do all we can to help them.”
Aid groups say the crossing is critical to stabilizing the fragile truce and scaling up relief. The Egyptian Red Crescent said trucks loaded with food, medical supplies and mobile clinics remain staged at the border, ready to move as soon as access is granted.
Israel and Hamas have traded accusations of ceasefire violations throughout the past week, complicating implementation of the deal. Israel’s military said today’s strikes targeted positions near the frontier; Hamas did not immediately comment on the specific locations but has previously denied breaching the truce.
Humanitarian agencies warn conditions inside Gaza remain dire, with shortages of fuel, medicine and clean water and hospitals operating at minimal capacity. Diplomats involved in the mediation say restoring the flow of aid through Rafah is essential to preventing a broader collapse of basic services during the pause in fighting.
For now, trucks idle in Egypt’s Sinai while negotiations continue, and residents on both sides of the border wait for word that the gates will open.
