Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdel-Aty visited the Rafah crossing on Monday with Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Mustafa. The visit was directed by President Abdel Fattah El Sisi to review efforts to deliver humanitarian and relief aid to Gaza. This was the first visit by the Palestinian Prime Minister to the Rafah crossing. It aimed to highlight Egypt's extensive efforts to support the humanitarian response and mitigate the consequences of the Israeli war on Gaza. Egypt has provided more than 70 per cent of the total humanitarian aid delivered to the Strip. The visit was covered by a large media delegation of foreign correspondents and Arab and international news outlets. At a joint press conference, Abdel-Aty said Egypt has worked since the start of the Israeli offensive to achieve a ceasefire, protect civilians, secure aid access and treat wounded Palestinians in Egyptian hospitals despite logistical and field challenges. He stressed that the Rafah crossing has never closed since the beginning of the crisis but faces exceptional circumstances due to Israel's occupation and destruction of the Palestinian side. He said Egypt is working to ensure aid flows by all possible means and called for continued pressure on Israel to stop the fighting and allow safe, immediate, sustained and unconditional humanitarian access through all crossings. Abdel-Aty reaffirmed Egypt's full solidarity with the Palestinian people and its support for their legitimate rights, including the right to self-determination and the establishment of an independent state on the June 4, 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital. Attribution: Amwal Al Ghad English Subediting: M. S. Salama
