Hamas spokesperson Hazem Qassem stated on Monday that the Israeli occupation closed the Rafah crossing that day and failed to allow the entry of the agreed-upon aid, continuing its systematic violations. He called on the “Peace Council” and mediators to compel Israel to abide by the agreement.
Qassem indicated that Israel is pursuing a clear policy of starvation in the Gaza Strip, explaining that the rise in prices of basic commodities is a direct result of Israel’s policy of exacerbating hunger within the Strip and its continued violations through bombing and killing, as occurred at dawn that day.
He emphasized that this systematic policy of Israeli violations necessitates a genuine stance from mediators, guarantor states, and the so-called Peace Council to put a real end to these violations and lift the siege on the Gaza Strip after two years of annihilation.
Read also: Crossings and Borders: Occupation to Close Rafah Crossing on Monday, Halting Patient Evacuations
The Palestinian Crossings and Borders Authority in Gaza stated that the occupation authorities will completely close the Rafah crossing in the southern Gaza Strip on Monday, halting the evacuation of patients abroad.
On February 2nd, the occupation authorities reopened the Palestinian side of the Rafah crossing, which they have occupied since May 2014, on a very limited basis and with extremely strict restrictions.
The Crossings and Borders Authority added in a brief statement, “The evacuation of patients will be halted tomorrow, Monday, as a result of the closure of the Rafah crossing by the occupation.”
This is not the first time the occupation has closed the crossing; it has previously closed it for weeks on some occasions, exacerbating the suffering of patients and wounded people waiting their turn to travel for treatment.
