The Israeli flag has been waving over the Gaza side of the Rafah crossing for a fortnight, but the future of this critical aid terminal has swiftly become a headache for Israel. Egypt has declined to reopen its side of the crossing as long as Israeli forces occupy the Palestinian side, effectively shutting down one of the few entry points through which much-needed aid reaches Gaza.
This impasse has exacerbated the severe humanitarian crisis affecting the 2.4 million inhabitants of the Palestinian territory, with repeated warnings of impending famine after more than seven months of conflict between Israel and Hamas.
The Rafah crossing, situated on Gaza’s southern border with Egypt, was symbolic of Hamas’s authority over the area after the Iranian-backed militant group took power in 2007. However, on May 7, the Israeli army swiftly seized control of the crossing, alleging that it was being utilized for “terrorist” purposes. Since then, it has been closed, significantly reducing the flow of aid into Gaza.