By Nykoel Dinardo
Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East

RAFAH, Egypt – On January 13, Egypt opened the border crossing at Rafah to allow medics and humanitarian aid to cross into Gaza.  Eleven doctors from Greece, Ireland, and France had been waiting in Egypt since early in the crisis to aid injured Palestinians, but were denied passage through the Rafah crossing.  The crossing is the only passage into the Gaza Strip that is not shared with Israel.

A group of nine doctors was allowed through to assist physicians already working at Nasr Hospital in Khan Yunis, a city over the border in Gaza.  However, before the doctors were allowed to cross, each was required to sign forms releasing Egypt from all liability.  Buses left from Egypt early in the evening on January 13 carrying the physicians, as well as 50 EMTs.  They returned later that evening with 42 injured Palestinians. 

However, on January 16, there were reports that Egyptian officials at the crossing were denying access to medics, humanitarian aid and the press.  A 26-person Greek medical team was denied access to Gaza.  According to members of the team, they were denied for national security reasons but were given no details.  A senior official at the border said that any foreign medical assistance must be coordinated with the Egyptian Red Crescent in order to be allowed through the border crossing.

The press has also been denied access to the area.  Neither Egyptian nor Israeli authorities are allowing media personnel into the region, even with appropriate documentation.  According the Malaysian reports, the guards at the crossing, which consists of two gates, allow media through the first gate but retain their passports, without which they cannot pass through the second gate.  Thus, media members are forced to turn around and wait in Egypt until they are allowed full passage.  As Egypt has been allowing some medical personnel to cross, many reporters have been getting some stories from doctors and medics when they return to Egypt.

Egypt held a press conference on January 12 at which it handed out a 16-page packet of information defending its position on the crisis and outlining its stance on the border crossing.  At the conference, Egypt stated that it does not want to express support for Hamas, but does want to aid the civilians living in Gaza.

For more information, please see:

Inner City Press – With Gaza Still Shelled, UN General Assembly Meets, Egypt Keeps Out Doctors, Fatah Complains of Cash, UN Takes Sides – 16 January 2009

Relief Web – Egypt-Israel-OPT: Confusion at Rafah Border Over Who Can Enter Gaza – 16 January 2009

San Francisco Chronicle – Barred Foreign Doctors Finally Cross into Gaza – 13 January 2009

The Star – Prevented From Revealing the Truth – 13 January 2009

The National – Egypt Defends Its Gaza Policy – 12 January 2009

Press TV – Rafah Crossing Still Closed to Medics – 12 January 2009