CAIRO, November 24. /TASS/. Egypt has never closed the Rafah crossing on its border with the Gaza Strip since the in the enclave broke out on October 7, despite four Israeli attacks on the Palestinian side of the checkpoint, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi said.

"The Rafah border crossing has never been closed, but Israel shelled the Palestinian side of the checkpoint four times. However, a decision was made to keep the checkpoint open to ensure the delivery of food, medicines and fuel, and also to receive the wounded. No matter how intense the hostilities were, we kept the checkpoint functioning," he told a rally held in Cairo to show solidarity with the people of Palestine. His speech was aired by the Al-Qahera al-Ihbariya television.

In his words, Egypt delivered around 12,000 metric tons of humanitarian cargo to the Gaza Strip, which amounts to 70% of all international aid to the enclave.

After the sharp escalation of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, Egypt asked the world community as well as regional and international organizations wishing to provide humanitarian aid to the residents of Gaza to send it to El-Arish. As the Egyptian Foreign Ministry pointed out, Israeli bombardments are preventing the normal operation of the crossing. Egypt called on Israel to stop the shelling and expressed hope that the crossing would be used as a lifeline to support Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.