Neelam Rahim | neelam@radioislam.co.za

3-minute read
04 November 2023 | 12:59 CAT

Image: RFI

For the first time in over three weeks of intense conflict, the Rafah border crossing connecting Gaza and Egypt has been unlocked to enable the evacuation of numerous injured Palestinians in need of urgent hospital care.

A first group of injured evacuees from Gaza crossed into Egypt on Wednesday under a Qatari-mediated deal, Egyptian media and a source at the border said.

A group of 335 foreign passport holders – including British nationals – were also allowed to leave via the Rafah crossing, officials said.

Gaza’s borders have been closed since Hamas attacked Israel on 7 October.

Rafah is expected to continue opening for limited periods to let foreign nationals and injured civilians leave.

Radio Islam International discussed the crisis and genocide with the Professor of Sociology at the American University of Beirut and the President of the International Sociological Association, Professor Sari Hanafi, who is in Beirut on the other side of Occupied Palestine.

“The happenings are a deliberate attempt to eliminate a space of land 40 kilometres long and 8 kilometres in width, a tiny land in which there are 2.5 million people,” Hanafi said.

“A bit of foreigners have been evacuated and some sounded but unfortunately not enough speedily movement to get a heavy number of wounded Palestinian among them including women and children. The situation is absolutely dramatic and the genocidal perspective is much more real,” Hanafi added.

Professor Hanafi spoke on the media coverage of the genocide in Gaza since 7 October.

Different Arab media houses coming out from the gulf, in particular given a different spin on the events coming out of Gaza; some have chosen just to continue a normal life and just update the crisis once in a while

Professor Hanafi spoke on the media coverage of the genocide in Gaza since 7 October.

Different Arab media houses coming out from the gulf, in particular, have a different spin on the events coming out of Gaza. Some have chosen to continue a normal life and just broadcast it as an update on the crisis. Once in a while, other countries are at the forefront and informing the general public on the happenings in Gaza.

“Lebanon is very concerned by what is going on and Lebanon sooner or later will be embraced in this war. Everybody is alarmed and the Lebanese coverage is around the clock on what is going on in Palestine,” Professor Hanafi said.

Listen to the full interview on The Daily Round-Up with Moulana Junaid Kharsany.