Egypt activists demand Rafah Crossing remain open after Jabaliya massacre

Egyptian activists renewed their demand for their government to completely open the Rafah border crossing and allow all aid into the Gaza Strip. Their calls came after the Israeli occupation army committed a new massacre in the Jabaliya camp, killing and injuring more than 400 people, according to the Ministry of Health in Gaza.

The ministry added that the number of victims in the Jabaliya massacre may be the largest yet and may be close to the number of victims in the Baptist Hospital massacre.

This massacre prompted many Egyptian and Arab activists to demand the indefinite opening of the Rafah crossing, with some demanding the dismissal of the Israeli ambassador from Egypt and the severing of relations with Israel. Former presidential candidate Hamdeen Sabahi said in a tweet: “We call on our army to secure continuous entry of relief through the Rafah crossing and confront those who prevent it.”

READ: Rafah Crossing opens to allow injured, dual nationals out of Gaza

Sabahi also demanded “preventing ships supporting the aggression from passing through the Suez Canal, dismissing the aggressor’s ambassador, recalling our ambassador, and immediately releasing the demonstrators in support of Gaza.”

A tweet by a user named Mahmoud said: “Why doesn’t Egypt open the Rafah crossing? For fear of targeting aid? Let it burn. Out of fear for its drivers? We will drag it with our teeth. For fear of an Israeli response? Israel is busy slaughtering us and does not care about others. For fear of the displacement of people? For fear over those who are dying in the hundreds in Jabaliya and northern Gaza because they refused to evacuate their homes? Give me one convincing reason!”

Another tweeted: “Open the Rafah crossing, Gaza is dying.”

Astronomer Issam Hajji had called for the opening of the Rafah crossing and the introduction of mobile stations for water desalination and energy production into the Gaza Strip.

The Rafah Crossing was opened earlier this morning to allow 81 of Gaza’s most injured patients and dual nationals out of the besieged enclave, it is not clear how long the crossing will remain open or how many people will be allowed through, but lines of ambulances could be seen on the Egyptian side of the crossing waiting to cross and retrieve the injured.

#فيديو | دخول مركبات إسعاف إلى معبر رفح لنقل جرحى إلى مصر. pic.twitter.com/KeHF7f4eNV

— وكالة شهاب للأنباء (@ShehabAgency) November 1, 2023

The Ministry of Health in Gaza announced yesterday that the death toll from the Israeli aggression on the Strip since 7 October had risen to 8,525 martyrs, including 3,542 children, with more than 21,500 people injured.

He added, “The Ministry of Health received 2,000 reports of missing persons, including 1,100 children still under the rubble” noting that “the Israeli occupation committed 18 massacres during the past hours.”