Ahmed Kamel – Egypt Daily News
Negotiations over the reopening of the Rafah border crossing between Egypt and the Gaza Strip have stalled after Egypt rejected Israeli demands that would significantly alter how the crossing is managed, according to Israeli media reports. The impasse threatens to prolong the closure of Gaza’s only border crossing not directly controlled by Israel, further complicating humanitarian relief efforts in the enclave.
Hebrew-language media, citing sources familiar with the talks, reported that Israel has proposed a set of stringent conditions as part of any agreement to reopen Rafah. Central among these is the establishment of an additional Israeli inspection point beyond the existing Palestinian checkpoint inside the crossing. Under this proposal, travelers would enter Gaza through the Rafah gate but would then be directed along a designated route leading to Israeli security checks. While Israeli forces would not be stationed directly inside Palestinian-controlled territory, the arrangement would give Israel effective oversight of movement through the crossing.
Additional conditions outlined in the reports include restrictions on who would be permitted to enter Gaza. Palestinians born outside the Gaza Strip, whether during or before the current war, would be barred from entry. Israel has also reportedly demanded that the number of people allowed to enter Gaza not exceed those leaving, a measure described by Israeli and international sources as ensuring a “net exit” of Gaza’s population. Critics say such a policy would amount to demographic engineering under the guise of security controls.
A further proposal involves relocating the crossing altogether. The plan, referred to as “Rafah 2,” would move operations to the border triangle near the Kerem Abu Salem crossing, where Israel already exercises extensive control over the movement of goods. This would effectively sideline the traditional Rafah crossing and render the Philadelphi Corridor, an area along the Egypt-Gaza border historically overseen by Egypt functionally irrelevant, consolidating Israeli control over Gaza’s southern access points.
Egypt, according to the same reports, has firmly rejected these proposals. Cairo has reiterated its position that the Rafah crossing must remain under joint Palestinian-Egyptian administration, in line with long-standing agreements and Egypt’s view of its sovereignty and regional responsibilities. Egyptian officials have repeatedly warned that any attempt to alter the legal or administrative status of the crossing would be unacceptable and could set a precedent undermining broader regional arrangements.
The deadlock comes amid mounting international concern over Gaza’s humanitarian situation. The United Nations has warned that the continued closure of Rafah is exacerbating food shortages, medical supply gaps, and the spread of disease among a population already facing severe displacement and infrastructure collapse. Rafah has historically served as a critical lifeline for humanitarian aid, medical evacuations, and the movement of civilians, particularly when other crossings are closed or restricted.
Humanitarian organizations argue that reopening Rafah without restrictive conditions is essential to preventing further deterioration on the ground. Aid agencies have also cautioned that any system designed to limit population movement or control aid flows could violate international humanitarian principles and further politicize relief efforts.
As diplomatic efforts continue behind closed doors, the standoff underscores the broader struggle over control, security, and sovereignty at Gaza’s borders. With no breakthrough in sight, the fate of the Rafah crossing remains uncertain, leaving millions of Palestinians in Gaza dependent on limited and unreliable aid channels as the crisis grinds on.
