Egypt denies establishing ‘free trade zone’ between Rafah city and Gaza strip

CAIRO - An informed Egyptian source denied reports claiming 'a free trade zone' in between Gaza Strip and Egyptian Rafah city to be established soon.

The alleged zone aims to support Gaza Strip economically and provide its inhabitants with day-to-day needs of living, the source told Egyptian independent newspaper ‘Al-Shrouk'.

The source added that there are conditions for establishment of such a free zone, the top of which is the Palestinian national accord, i.e. an accord between the Palestinian Fatah and the Palestinian Hamas, pointing out that Egypt will not be taking this step individually with Hamas as Cairo is keen to stand at one distance between both parties.

This comes against the background that Israeli channel I24news, has reported that the Egyptian authorities will reach a decision on the establishment of a field hospital and a free trade zone in the Gaza Strip.

The Israeli channel claimed that Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi has ordered his government to open up to Hamas. According to I24news, another project ordered by Sisi is the construction of a field hospital in Gaza to be run and managed by Egyptian doctors, as a step to decrease the number of Gaza residents who seek medical attention in Egypt, Israel and abroad.

On the other hand, a Palestinian source in Ramallah told “Al-Shrouk” Newspaper that the establishment of that free zone is actually at request of a number of businessmen, though he denied the project is gong to happen.

The proposal had been put forward in November 2016; however, it requires an infrastructure adjusted directly from Gaza Strip such as paved roads and a permanent electricity source which are unavailable neither now nor in the foreseeable future. 

He said that the establishment of a Free Zone requires the coordination with the Palestinian Authority as the first step and then the participation in Paris Protocol of 2005.