[News Spot] Gaza Residents' Only Lifeline 'Rafah Crossing'

'Rafah' is a border city located in the southern part of the Gaza Strip, an ancient city within Gaza with a history spanning over 4,000 years. It is the third largest city in the Gaza Strip controlled by Palestinians, following Gaza and Khan Yunis. Situated between the Mediterranean Sea and the Jordan River, it borders Egypt's Sinai Peninsula to the south.

[Image source=Getty Images]

The area is approximately 26,000 km². Although it lacks special natural resources, its strategic location as a passageway from Egypt to Syria has led to a history of repeated conquests by various powers such as the Greeks, Romans, Arabs, and the Ottoman Turks. Since the start of Palestinian self-rule in the Gaza Strip in May 1994, Rafah has been regarded as an important passage for Palestinians to leave the area or receive humanitarian aid.

Especially after Israel imposed a full blockade on the Gaza Strip, the Rafah crossing became the only lifeline for Gaza residents. The northern and eastern parts of the Gaza Strip border Israel, and the west borders the Mediterranean Sea, leaving Rafah in the south, which borders Egypt, as the only option for the struggling residents fleeing the area.

As a ground offensive looms in the Gaza Strip, Palestine, people holding foreign passports are waiting for the Rafah crossing, the only lifeline to Egypt, to open on the 14th (local time).
[Image source=UPI Yonhap News]

However, amid the war between Israel and the Palestinian armed faction Hamas, Rafah has failed to serve as a lifeline. The Egyptian government, which shares a border with this area, has increased its military presence and installed temporary cement barriers, effectively closing the crossing.

Egypt has announced plans to open a humanitarian corridor soon, but it strongly opposes a large influx of Gaza residents into its territory, making full opening unlikely. There are significant concerns that a massive influx of refugees could pose serious political and security risks to Egypt, which is already facing a severe economic crisis. Additionally, the possibility that Hamas fighters could enter Egypt disguised among refugees is another factor causing hesitation in fully opening the Rafah crossing. If Israel begins a ground invasion while Egypt partially opens the crossing, there are fears that Gaza residents fleeing through Rafah could suffer significant harm.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.