Israel closes Gaza’s Rafah crossing amid attack on Iran | Israel-Palestine conflict news

The crossing with Egypt is considered vital for the delivery of humanitarian aid and the evacuation of critically ill patients.

Israel has closed Gaza’s Rafah border crossing with Egypt amid a joint Israeli-United States attack on Iran.

“Several necessary security adjustments have been implemented, including the closure of crossings into the Gaza Strip, including the Rafah crossing, until further notice,” Israel’s Coordinator of Governmental Activities in the Territories (COGAT) said in a statement.

The Rafah crossing on Gaza’s southern border reopened just last month, allowing a limited number of Palestinians to leave for the first time in months, including patients in need of urgent medical care.

The crossing is considered vital for the delivery of humanitarian aid and the evacuation of critically ill patients.

Virtually all of Gaza’s population of more than two million was displaced during Israel’s genocidal war, and the enclave is heavily dependent on humanitarian aid.

In mid-February, the United Nations said it was facing obstacles in delivering life-saving aid to Gaza.

In a February report, Human Rights Watch said Israeli sanctions have resulted in shortages of medicine, reconstruction materials, food and water inside the Strip.

COGAT claims that enough food has entered Gaza to meet the nutritional needs of four times the population since the cease-fire began. However, it did not provide any evidence to support its claim.

“The substantial amount of food that has entered since the beginning of the ceasefire is more than four times the nutritional needs of the population,” the Israeli Defense Agency said. “Therefore, the existing stock is expected to be sufficient for an extended period.”

“The closure of the crossings will have no impact on the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip,” it added, adding that it would stay in touch with the international community and provide updates on any developments.

COGAT is an Israeli military agency responsible for overseeing civilian affairs in the Occupied Palestinian Territory. Critics say it serves as a tool of surveillance and control, particularly in enforcing movement restrictions and closures.