Egypt Involved in Crimes Against Humanity in Gaza??
- What is the benefit to the Egyptians from the continuous closure of the Rafah crossing, the only crossing that allows the million and a half persons living in Gaza to have contact with the world?
- What are the motives that make the Egyptian government insist on the closure of the crossing, denying Palestinian students, patients, traders to reach their universities, hospitals, business partners?
Newborn Baby Dies – On Friday 27 September 2013, new Palestinian born baby Mohammed Adel Al Mashharawi died as his mother was not able to reach hospital on time due to the Israeli closure imposed on the Gaza Strip. His mother Eman Hamdi Dughmush, 38, was waiting at Cairo Airport and in the vicinity of Rafah crossing to be allowed to enter Gaza.
In her affidavit to Al Mezan, Eman stated that she had waited for one day at Cairo Airport and for another day nearby Rafah crossing. She was not able to reach hospital in Egypt due to the imposed curfew and the security circumstances. She was forced to give birth to Mohammed in Egypt because she was not allowed to enter Gaza Strip.
Following the international condemnation of the Israeli attack on the flotilla fleet carrying humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip, which resulted in the deaths of 9 solidarity activists, criticism of Israel’s actions has veered towards easing the siege instead of ending it. Once again, voices from international community stressed the illegal nature of the siege, which represents a measure of collective punishment of the entire population of Gaza. This measure has been tolerated for too long. In September 2013, the Israeli authorities allowed the entry of construction materials for Palestinian private sector and it announced it will increase the amount of fuel allowed into the Gaza Strip.