Israel seeks more exits than entries' at Gaza's Rafah as Egypt objects

"A reported dispute over passenger numbers and a new remote control' surveillance mechanism reveal Israeli pressure to engineer a one-way flow of Palestinians out of Gaza. As preparations accelerate for the partial Israeli reopening of Gaza's Rafah border crossing, tentatively scheduled for Sunday, a simmering dispute has erupted between Egypt and Israel regarding which and how many Palestinians may leave and return."

"According to a report by Israel's public broadcaster Kan on Wednesday, Israeli negotiators have presented a condition regarding the flow of travellers: that the number of Palestinians leaving Gaza and entering Egypt through the crossing must exceed the number of those permitted to enter. The broadcaster reported that Egyptian officials rejected this asymmetric formula, insisting on an equal ratio of entries and exits. Cairo reportedly fears that Tel Aviv's position is a calculated attempt to engineer emigration and permanently reduce Gaza's population."

"While Kan reported on the dispute over numbers, the Israeli news site Ynet revealed the technical details of the proposed operation, which suggest a crossing that operates on a double standard. According to the website and security sources, all travellers must be vetted by Israel's Shin Bet security service 24 hours in advance. But the actual crossing process differs sharply by direction. A European Union monitoring mission is also expected to be on hand, but its role is unclear."

Preparations accelerate for the partial reopening of Gaza's Rafah border crossing, tentatively scheduled for Sunday. A dispute has erupted between Egypt and Israel over which and how many Palestinians may leave and return. Israeli negotiators proposed that the number of Palestinians leaving Gaza and entering Egypt must exceed those permitted to enter, while Egyptian officials insisted on equal entries and exits and fear engineered emigration to reduce Gaza's population permanently. Many Palestinians seek urgent medical care, family reunification, or education amid a healthcare system decimated by Israel in its more than two-year genocidal war. Reported technical plans require Shin Bet vetting 24 hours in advance and suggest asymmetric crossing processes by direction, with a European Union monitoring mission expected but with an unclear role. Technological mechanisms on the ground suggest systems designed to filter the population.

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