Activists Rally at Egyptian Embassy Against Rafah Crossing Closure

Protesters have taken to the streets outside the Egyptian embassy in Beirut to voice their opposition to Egypt’s closure of the Rafah border crossing, a crucial passageway linking Egypt with the Gaza Strip. Egypt holds the keys to this vital crossing and has expressed its opposition to any form of forced migration of Palestinians from Gaza into the desert regions of Sinai.

The demonstrators criticized Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, accusing him of playing a role in the ongoing blockade and the alleged genocide and displacement facing Gaza’s inhabitants.

This demonstration coincides with Israel’s preparations for a potential military strike on Rafah, prompting Egypt to construct a barrier and level ground near its border with Gaza. Despite Israel’s Defense Minister claiming there’s no plan to force Palestinian civilians into Egypt, the construction activities on the Egyptian side hint at Cairo’s readiness for a possible influx, which poses a risk to the peace agreement established with Israel in 1979—a key element in maintaining regional stability.

“We respect and value our peace agreement with Egypt, which is a cornerstone of stability in the region as well as an important partner,” stated Yoav Gallant, Israel’s Defense Minister.

An Israeli Intelligence Ministry report, produced shortly after Hamas’ attack on southern Israel on October 7—which resulted in 1,200 deaths and more than 250 hostages—suggested relocating Gaza’s civilian population to temporary shelters in northern Sinai, followed by the construction of permanent settlements and a humanitarian corridor.

As Israel advances with its strategy to target Rafah, the humanitarian situation worsens, with residents facing shortages of food, water, electricity, and medical supplies, all while enduring constant bombardment.