Israeli flag flies over Rafah crossing as aid terminal impasse worsens humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza
The Israeli flag has flown over the Gaza side of the Rafah crossing for two weeks, but uncertainty over the future of the key aid terminal has quickly become a thorn on Israel's side.
Egypt has refused to reopen its side of the crossing as long as Israeli troops control the Palestinian side, keeping shut one of the only points through which badly needed aid was reaching Gaza.
The impasse has worsened an already dire humanitarian catastrophe for the Palestinian territory's 2.4 million people, with repeated warnings of a looming famine more than seven months into the Israel-Hamas war.
The Rafah crossing, on Gaza's southern border with Egypt, stood as a symbol of Hamas's control over the territory where the Iran-backed militant group seized power in 2007.
But early on May 7 the Israeli army completed a swift takeover of the crossing, which it said was being “used for terrorist purposes”.
It has since been closed, severely limiting the volume of aid that has made it into Gaza.
Before Israeli tanks rolled in, Hamas — designated a “terrorist” group by Israel, the United States and the European Union — had collected taxes on goods passing through the entry gate.
Israel and others also suspect the Rafah crossing had been used to bring weapons into the Gaza Strip, particularly since Israel imposed a blockade on the territory when Hamas took power there.
Rejected bids
Since the start of the war, sparked by Hamas's October 7 attack on Israel, most aid deliveries into Gaza have passed through Rafah, long a strategic crossing point for the Palestinian territory and the only one not controlled by Israel.
In the weeks before the Israeli army took over, about 100 aid trucks had entered daily via Rafah, according to UN figures, as well as most of the crucial fuel supply.
As early as a day after the Israeli seizure, media reports said the government was exploring its options.
The left-wing daily Haaretz said Israel had begun negotiations with Egypt and the United States to hand over management of the crossing to a private US company.
Some analysts said they were sceptical about the projects, citing likely opposition by armed Palestinian groups that would render operations risky or impossible.
Hamas militants have already claimed several rocket attacks targeting Israeli troops deployed at the terminal.
Egypt has refused to coordinate with Israel on the Rafah crossing, and on Wednesday media reports said Cairo had rejected an Israeli proposal to reopen the crossing.
