LIVE UPDATES: Egypt Stations Dozens of Tanks Near Rafah Crossing on Gaza Border
November 1, 2023
Hostilities have raged in the Middle East for over three weeks since Oct. 7, when the Palestinian militant group Hamas launched a surprise attack on Israel, firing thousands of rockets and catching the army off guard. The Israeli government launched retaliatory strikes on the Gaza Strip.
Iranian Foreign Minister Pledges to Discuss Release of Thai Detainees With Hamas - Reports
Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian met with his Thai counterpart, Parnpree Bahiddha-Nukara, in Qatar and vowed to discuss with representatives of Palestinian movement Hamas the release of Thai hostages, Iranian media reported.
Earlier in the week, media reported that Parnpree would hold talks with Qatari and Egyptian officials to seek help in the release of Thai citizens held hostage by Hamas in the Gaza Strip.
During the meeting, the top Thai diplomat expressed concern over recent developments in the Gaza Strip and asked his Iranian counterpart to assist the release of Thai detainees, news outlet reported on Tuesday, adding that Amirabdollahian pledged to convey Parnpree's message to Hamas.
Egypt Stations Dozens of Tanks Near Rafah Crossing on Border With Gaza Strip - Reports
Egypt has deployed dozens of tanks and armored vehicles near the Rafah crossing on the border with the Gaza Strip, local newspaper has reported.
The newspaper reported, citing pictures taken near the border crossing, that around dozens of Egyptian tanks had been stationed in the area as Egypt is concerned over a possible influx of tens of thousands of refugees from the Gaza Strip following further escalation there.
Rafah is the only border crossing between Egypt and the Gaza Strip. Since the start of the hostilities in the area, it has been used for the delivery of humanitarian aid to people in the Gaza Strip. Egyptian newspaper reported on Monday, citing Egyptian Red Crescent chief in North Sinai, Raed Abdel Nasser, that over 130 trucks with humanitarian aid had entered the Gaza Strip from Egypt through the Rafah border crossing since October 21.