Rafah border crossing: will Egypt open lifeline to Gaza?

'Security considerations' so far prevent Cairo from allowing mass influx of Palestinian refugees

Satellite imagery of Rafah border crossing, 15 October 2023
Hundreds of tonnes of humanitarian aid is lined up in trucks waiting to cross the border from Egypt into Gaza
(Image credit: Satellite image (c) 2023 Maxar Technologies)

Thousands of people desperate to escape from Gaza are heading to the Rafah border crossing with Egypt amid frantic diplomatic efforts to reopen the only route out of the besieged territory.

All routes in and out of the Gaza Strip are currently closed as Israel steps up its air strikes and prepares to send in ground troops in response to last week's unprecedented attack by Hamas that has left more than 1,400 Israelis dead and seen 199 taken hostage. 

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