Although the Egyptian government is treating injured civilians from the Gaza Strip, it does not want to accept refugees. Something similar can also be observed in Jordan, Syria and Lebanon. The Jordanian Air Force recently dropped medical aid over the Gaza Strip, but refugees are also not allowed there.
“They must stay in their country,” Egyptian President Abdel Fatah-al-Sisi made clear immediately after the October 7 Hamas attack. The reasons why some Arab governments do not want to accept refugees from the Gaza Strip vary.
The border with Egypt was and will only be opened to Palestinians in exceptional cases, such as those who are seriously ill or seriously injured. The official reason is that the government fears that once people leave Gaza, they could become permanently displaced.
Another reason, according to media reports, is that the politically unstable Sinai Peninsula has developed into a haven for militant Islamists in recent years. If the Rafak border crossing is opened, the Egyptian government fears that Hamas supporters could also leave the Gaza Strip and join the jihadists.
Historical reservations
The Jordanian government also argues that Palestinians could permanently lose their homeland. There are also historical concerns. For example, in 1970, radicalized Palestinians committed an assassination attempt on the then Jordanian King Hussein I. Their Israel policy was too liberal for them. To this day, the relationship between the people of Palestine and Jordan is often not good.
Other Arab countries such as Syria and Lebanon are themselves dealing with wars and large numbers of refugees. There has been war in Syria for more than a decade and Lebanon already has 1.5 million refugees from Syria. The Iranian government is Hamas’s biggest supporter and wants to wipe Israel off the map.
economic aspects
Economic reasons also often play a role. The Gulf states Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates do not have money problems, but only want to let rich foreigners from the West into the country.
Despite this attitude, the Arab world continues to sympathize loudly and openly with the Palestinians. For example, governments condemn the attacks or emphasize the need for humanitarian aid. “It is our duty to help the brothers and sisters who were injured in the war against Gaza. We will always be there for our Palestinian brothers and sisters,” Jordanian King Abduallah II wrote on Monday evening (see video above).
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
