According to Great Game India, the actions of the IDF's 401st Brigade – which took control of the crossing overnight – had rendered it unusable. The brigade reportedly burned down the crossing, with a two-fold effect. Palestinians are now effectively trapped in the Strip, and international aid has been blocked from entering.
"This closure adds to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza … [and impacts] relief efforts severely," Great Game India continued. "Additionally, Israeli actions have obstructed aid and exacerbated conditions, drawing international criticism."
A statement from Israeli Army Radio 102.3 said: "This is how Rafah crossing looks today, destroyed and no longer usable after being taken over by Brigade 401 in one night. Due to its relative proximity from the border, the Israeli army used the crossing as a stopping point and resting area."
War correspondents have verified that the exterior of the Rafah crossing was indeed destroyed by fire. A report by the Middle East Eye said IDF units "damaged [the] Rafah crossing's halls that were used by locals to exit the [Gaza] Strip." China's CGTN also confirmed that the crossing was indeed damaged, noting that "Israeli forces have razed a number of buildings [in Gaza], besides blocking humanitarian aid and personnel from entering."
Egypt's Border Guard Corps and Palestinian officials operated on opposite sides of the crossing for the majority of the conflict, which dates back to the Operation Al-Aqsa Flood attack by Hamas on Oct. 7, 2023. Cairo has been preparing for a potential refugee crisis for some time, particularly since Israel began its ground battle in Rafah.
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Sally Abi Khalil, Middle East and North Africa director of the Oxfam nonprofit, openly denounced Tel Aviv. According to her, the Israeli government "claimed weeks ago that it would provide full humanitarian support and medical assistance to civilians it had told to move." However, Tel Aviv refused to fulfill its end of the bargain.
"Not only is this not happening, but [Israel's] ongoing impunity, bombardment, and deliberate obstruction have created unprecedented and impossibly dangerous conditions for humanitarian agencies to operate," Khalil remarked.
Even U.S.-built Gaza pier rendered unusable
Given the state of the Rafah crossing and Israel's control of the Kerem Shalom crossing into Gaza, the remaining way for international humanitarian aid to enter the Strip is through a U.S.-built temporary pier on the northern coast. But this floating dock underwent repairs less than two weeks after it was erected, further delaying much-needed aid to the Palestinians in Gaza.
According to the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD), the temporary pier had been battered by strong winds and waves. It was withdrawn off the coast and transported to Ashdod in southern Israel. DOD Deputy Press Secretary Sabrina Singh confirmed the move, adding that U.S. Central Command would be in charge of repairs.
"From when it was operational, it was working, and we just had sort of an unfortunate confluence of weather storms that made it inoperable for a bit," she said. "Hopefully just a little over a week, we should be back up and running."
According to a separate Great Game India piece, the temporary dock's repairs followed three U.S. service members being hurt and four vessels being beached due to strong waves that battered it. Singh noted that two of the service members had minor wounds, but the third one is currently in serious condition.
Unfortunately, all this effort and taxpayer money went to waste as the U.S. gave up on the pier. ZeroHedge reported that after 10 days of operations, the floating dock will be disassembled – with dismantling operations set to begin in July. (Related: SNAFU – U.S. gives up on failed $230 million Gaza humanitarian aid pier – disassembly to begin as early as July.)
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Watch this video of Hamas' Al-Quds Brigade attacking an IDF tank and several IDF soldiers at the Rafah crossing.
This video is from the CreeperStatus channel on Brighteon.com.
More related stories:
UN halts food distribution from U.S.-built pier in Gaza due to safety concerns.
U.S.-built floating pier in Gaza reopens after undergoing repairs that cost millions.
Gaza has "less than a week" of food left now that Israel controls Rafah border crossing.
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