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Iran calls on Egypt to reopen Rafah border crossing

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Tehran has called on Egypt to reopen the Rafah border crossing, so that humanitarian aid can be delivered to the oppressed people in the besieged Gaza Strip.

Iran’s Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Marziyeh Afkham on Thursday repeated the Islamic Republic’s call for the reopening of the crossing as soon as possible.

Afkham further expressed hope that with the aid supplies by different countries getting permission for entry, the pain and sufferings of the Gazans will be relieved to some extent.

Referring to Iran’s support for the Gazans, the Foreign Ministry spokeswoman stressed, “Following a directive by President [Hassan Rouhani] for sending food and medical aid to the people in Gaza, who are under the Zionist regime [of Israel]’s siege and relentless, merciless, and brutal attacks, the first shipment of relief aid provided by the Iranian Red Crescent Society (IRCS) has already been sent to [the Egyptian capital] Cairo.”
Rouhani had earlier tasked the IRCS with providing humanitarian aid for the Gazans. He on Wednesday expressed regret over Iran’s aid supplies being denied entry into Gaza.

Afkham further noted that Iran’s humanitarian aid is “awaiting permission to be dispatched to Gaza via the Rafah crossing on the border between Egypt and Gaza Strip.”

In the same vein, earlier in the day, Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister for Arab and African Affairs Hossein Amir-Abdollahian said, “Iran’s humanitarian aid has been transferred to the Egyptian Foreign Ministry and is awaiting permission.”

Amir-Abdollahian also pointed out that Egyptian officials had already announced their readiness to receive and send humanitarian aid to the blockaded Gaza Strip through the Rafah border opening.

In a telephone conversation with his Egyptian opposite number Sameh Hassan Shoukry on Friday, Iran’s Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif called on Egypt to play a more active role as a big Arab and Muslim country to help end the killing of innocent Palestinian people in Gaza by the Israeli regime.

Hospitals in Gaza are in desperate need of help, including medicines and equipment. Israel imposed an all-out land, aerial, and naval blockade on Gaza in June 2007. The siege has had a disastrous impact on the humanitarian and economic situation in the impoverished enclave.

Latest reports indicate Israeli air raids and ground invasion of Gaza have killed more than 730 Palestinians, mostly women and children, and wounded 4,600 others since July 8.

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