Egypt is facing intense pressure to allow refugees in neighboring Gaza to cross the border and escape an expected Israeli ground invasion in the strip, Report informs referring to The Wall Street Journal.
Central to such a move is Rafah, the only civilian land crossing in Gaza that Israel doesn’t control.
Egypt has appeared willing to let foreign citizens through the crossing but has been reluctant to allow a flood of Palestinian refugees enter, citing security threats.
The border crossing is expected to open October 16. According to a preliminary plan, US citizens would be the first to enter Egypt, followed by American dual nationals and other Western nationalities, then United Nations and other aid workers and finally, employees of international companies. The US estimates that there are between 500 and 600 Americans in Gaza.
The Israeli military carried out several airstrikes near the crossing last week, bringing a long line of humanitarian aid trucks from Egypt to a halt and forcing crowds to run for cover.
Israeli and Qatari delegations have been in Cairo in recent days to discuss how Palestinians can evacuate in the event of an Israeli ground invasion. But while Egypt prepares to let some people in, it is fighting back fiercely at the idea of having to host what could amount to hundreds of thousands of refugees, according to officials.