Egypt officially denies deputies entry to Gaza through Rafah

AMMAN — Egypt has officially informed Jordan of its refusal to open the Rafah Border Crossing into Gaza to 20 MPs who were planning to visit the strip, according to a deputy.

MP Khalil Atiyeh (Amman, 1st District) announced on Friday that the Egyptians have informed the Jordanian embassy in Cairo that they cannot guarantee the safety of the Lower House delegation.

It is now confirmed that the MPs will not be heading to Gaza to show their solidarity with the Palestinians who have been under Israeli aggression for over 10 days, a parliamentary source said Saturday.

According to Atiyeh, Egypt said the lawmakers would have had to go through at least 10 security checkpoints before they reach Rafah, from where they would pass the border to Gaza.

Ten days ago, the Lower House approved a suggestion by its Palestine Committee to send 20 lawmakers to Gaza to show solidarity with Palestinians under Israeli attack.

The decision came in response to a suggestion by MP Yihya Saud (Amman, 2nd District), head of the committee.

Saud said Foreign Minister Nasser Judeh and his Egyptian counterpart Sameh Shoukri discussed granting the parliamentary delegation entry to Gaza through Egypt last week, but no positive results were reached.

Meanwhile, MP Ahmad Hmeisat (Amman, 4th District) is trying to get enough signatories to a memo that seeks to deduct JD100 from each deputy’s salary for Gaza.

If the memo is approved, the Lower House could collect JD15,000 to assist Gazans.