Regulatory Controls for Visiting the Border Area Adjacent to the Gaza Strip

The Arab Republic of Egypt welcomes the international and regional positions, both official and popular, supporting Palestinian rights and rejecting the blockade, starvation, and blatant and systematic Israeli violations against the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip. In this regard, it affirms Egypt's continued efforts at all levels to end the aggression on the Strip and the humanitarian catastrophe that has befallen more than two million Palestinian brothers

In this context, and in light of the requests and inquiries related to visits by foreign delegations to the border area adjacent to Gaza, the city of Arish and the Rafah crossing, during the recent period, to express support for Palestinian rights, Egypt stresses the need to obtain prior approval for these visits. The only way for the Egyptian authorities to continue considering these requests is by following the regulatory controls and mechanisms in place since the beginning of the war on Gaza, which is to submit an official request to Egyptian embassies abroad or through requests submitted by foreign embassies in Cairo, or by representatives of organizations to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, noting that many visits have previously been arranged for foreign delegations, both governmental and from non-governmental human rights organizations.

Egypt stresses the importance of adhering to these regulatory controls that have been put in place to ensure the security of visiting delegations due to the delicate situation in this border area since the beginning of the crisis in Gaza. In this regard, it affirms that no requests will be considered, nor will any invitations received outside the framework defined by the regulatory controls and mechanisms in place in this regard

Egypt also stresses the importance of citizens of all countries adhering to the laws and regulations governing entry into Egyptian territory, including obtaining prior and regulated visas or permits. Egypt stresses its firm position in support of the steadfastness of the Palestinian people on their land and in rejection of the flagrant Israeli violations of international law and international humanitarian law. It also stresses the importance of pressuring Israel to end the blockade of the Gaza Strip and allow humanitarian access through all Israeli roads and crossings with the Gaza Strip