PA backs Egypt's move not to open Rafah, send aid to Kerem Shalom

The Palestinian Authority has backed Egypt’s decision to reject opening the Rafah border crossing until a legal agreement is reached between Cairo and Israel. 

“In light of the official contacts that took place with our brothers in the Arab Republic of Egypt, it was agreed to bring relief aid to our besieged people in the Gaza Strip through the Kerem Shalom crossing on a temporary basis,” the PA said in a statement.

The Kerem Shalom border crossing runs between Israel and Gaza. US officials previously complained that Egypt was preventing aid that had piled up outside Rafah from travelling into Israel.

Cairo says it wants a new legal agreement in place before opening Rafah, the sole crossing between Egypt and the Gaza Strip.