Sisi Blames Israeli Air Strikes for Aid Failure; Warns of Palestinian Displacement to Jordan, Egypt

Egypt’s President Sisi has blamed Israeli airstrikes on the Rafah crossing between Gaza and Egypt for the failure to deliver aid to the 2.4 million people in the territory. Sisi warned of the possible displacement of Palestinians from the West Bank into Jordan if a large-scale migration of Gaza refugees were to occur. He emphasized that this would make the implementation of a Palestinian state impossible. Sisi’s comments came during a meeting with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, who pledged to work towards ensuring humanitarian access to Gaza. The ongoing Israeli bombardment of Gaza has resulted in thousands of casualties and severe shortages of essential supplies. Pressure has mounted for aid shipments to be allowed through Egypt’s Rafah crossing, the only access point not controlled by Israel. Sisi stated that developments on the ground and Israel’s repeated bombings of the Palestinian side of the crossing have prevented its operation. He called for immediate international intervention to halt the dangerous military escalation in the region. Sisi also expressed concern that a mass exodus of Gazans to Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula would risk turning it into a terrorist base against Israel, potentially leading to direct strikes on Egyptian lands. Palestinian President Mahmud Abbas warned that such displacement would amount to a second Nakba for Palestinians. Egypt has consistently refused to accept the transfer of Israel’s responsibility as an occupying power. Sisi suggested Israel’s Negev Desert as a potential alternative refuge for Gazans until Israel completes its operation to eliminate armed groups.