Biden-Sisi call ends with no Egyptian commitment to open Rafah

Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi said he wanted "legal mechanisms" to be put in place to bring aid into Gaza from the Rafah border crossing in a call with US President Joe Biden.

An Egyptian readout of the call said the two leaders agreed to increase the transfer of humanitarian aid and fuel to Gaza and transfer them to the United Nations through the Kerem Shalom crossing between Israel and the Gaza Strip. 

Egypt said the aid will go through Israel’s crossing with Gaza until there are legal mechanisms in place to reopen the Rafah crossing from the Palestinian side.

The call between the leaders came after US officials - including US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken - upped their rhetoric against Egypt, suggesting Cairo was to blame for the Rafah border crossing's closure.

The border has been closed since Israeli troops seized it earlier in May.