President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi said Egypt “did not close” the only border crossing with Gaza not under Israel’s control, blaming Israeli bombardments for it not operating, AFP reports.

“Developments on the ground and the repeated bombings by Israel of the Palestinian side of the crossing have prevented operations,” Sisi told reporters.

Aid convoys have been waiting for six days on the Egyptian side of the Rafah crossing, which has been bombed four times by Israel since the Oct 7 Hamas blitz.