The US secretary of state, Anthony Blinken, yesterday said the crossing would open to allow aid in and evacuation of some foreign passport holders, but for most people gathering in Rafah after being ordered to leave northern Gaza, it remains closed.
Why has Egypt closed the crossing?
Egypt tightly restricts opening of the Rafah crossing, and kept it shut during bombardments of Gaza by Israeli forces in 2021 and 2014.
Since heightened conflict between Egypt's military and jihadists in the Sinai peninsula that began in 2013, Egypt has vastly curtailed movement through the Rafah crossing, and banned aid organisations and journalists from entering northern Sinai.
Egyptian officials have been unwilling to open the crossing for any movement of people during the latest Israeli assault, without Israel allowing aid into Gaza.
Foreign nationals, including American and British citizens, were reportedly stranded on the Gaza side of the crossing.
What is Egypt afraid of?
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