Egypt Pressures Israel to Reopen Rafah Crossing for Gaza Goods

Egypt is intensifying diplomatic pressure on Israel to reopen the Rafah border crossing for the transit of commercial goods into the Gaza Strip. Israeli officials maintain that all cargo must continue to be routed through the Kerem Shalom crossing, which they say is essential to prevent the smuggling of weapons and dual‑use materials. Israel has allowed only limited pedestrian traffic through Rafah, citing security concerns, and this restriction hampers the movement of patients, students and humanitarian aid. The closure of Rafah has also reduced Egypt’s revenue from customs duties that were previously collected on goods passing the crossing. Israeli security sources assert that the policy of using Kerem Shalom is a unified stance communicated to the United States and the senior peace envoy, with no intention of changing it.