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Egypt aims to double the number of tourists to reach 30 million by 2028, tourism minister says

Egypt’s Tourism and Antiquities Minister Ahmed Issa speaks during an interview with the Associated Press at the Egyptian museum in Cairo, Egypt, Tuesday, Sept. 26, 2023. The country is aiming at reaching 30 million visitors by 2028, as its once-thriving tourism sector has begun to recover from the fallout of the coronavirus pandemic and the grinding war in Europe, Issa said. (AP Photo/Amr Nabil)

Hundreds of tourists surround the Colossal head of the god Serapis, center, one of the most important gods in the Greek and Roman periods, at the Egyptian museum in Cairo, Egypt, Wednesday, Sept. 27, 2023. The country is aiming at reaching 30 million visitors by 2028, as its once-thriving tourism sector has begun to recover from the fallout of the coronavirus pandemic and the grinding war in Europe, Egypt’s Tourism and Antiquities Minister Ahmed Issa said during an interview with the Associated Press. (AP Photo/Amr Nabil)

Hundreds of tourists surround the statue of Djoser, at the Egyptian museum in Cairo, Egypt, Wednesday, Sept. 27, 2023. The country is aiming at reaching 30 million visitors by 2028, as its once-thriving tourism sector has begun to recover from the fallout of the coronavirus pandemic and the grinding war in Europe, Egypt’s Tourism and Antiquities Minister Ahmed Issa said during an interview with the Associated Press. (AP Photo/Amr Nabil)

Workers build a new fountain to replace the old one at the garden of the Egyptian museum in Cairo, Egypt, Wednesday, Sept. 27, 2023. The country is aiming at reaching 30 million visitors by 2028, as its once-thriving tourism sector has begun to recover from the fallout of the coronavirus pandemic and the grinding war in Europe, Egypt’s Tourism and Antiquities Minister Ahmed Issa said during an interview with the Associated Press. (AP Photo/Amr Nabil)

Egyptian museum officials hang the planner of the new fountain at the garden of the Egyptian museum in Cairo, Egypt, Wednesday, Sept. 27, 2023. The country is aiming at reaching 30 million visitors by 2028, as its once-thriving tourism sector has begun to recover from the fallout of the coronavirus pandemic and the grinding war in Europe, Egypt’s Tourism and Antiquities Minister Ahmed Issa said during an interview with the Associated Press. (AP Photo/Amr Nabil)

Hundreds of tourists watch and film antiquities at the Egyptian museum in Cairo, Egypt, Wednesday, Sept. 27, 2023. The country is aiming at reaching 30 million visitors by 2028, as its once-thriving tourism sector has begun to recover from the fallout of the coronavirus pandemic and the grinding war in Europe, Egypt’s Tourism and Antiquities Minister Ahmed Issa said during an interview with the Associated Press. (AP Photo/Amr Nabil)

Hundreds of tourists watch and film antiquities at the Egyptian museum in Cairo, Egypt, Wednesday, Sept. 27, 2023. Egypt is aiming at reaching 30 million visitors by 2028, as its once-thriving tourism sector has begun to recover from the fallout of the coronavirus pandemic and the grinding war in Europe, Egypt’s Tourism and Antiquities Minister Ahmed Issa said during an interview with the Associated Press. (AP Photo/Amr Nabil)

Tourists surround the golden mask of King Tutankhamun at the Egyptian Museum in Cairo, Egypt, Wednesday, Sept. 27, 2023. Egypt is aiming at reaching 30 million visitors by 2028, as its once-thriving tourism sector has begun to recover from the fallout of the coronavirus pandemic and the grinding war in Europe, Egypt’s Tourism and Antiquities Minister Ahmed Issa said during an interview with the Associated Press. (AP Photo/Amr Nabil)

A Toursit watches king tutankhamun sarcophagus at the Egyptian Museum in Cairo, Egypt, Wednesday, Sept. 27, 2023. Egypt is aiming at reaching 30 million visitors by 2028, as its once-thriving tourism sector has begun to recover from the fallout of the coronavirus pandemic and the grinding war in Europe, Egypt’s Tourism and Antiquities Minister Ahmed Issa said during an interview with the Associated Press. (AP Photo/Amr Nabil)

The golden mask of King Tutankhamun is seen at the Egyptian Museum in Cairo, Egypt, Wednesday, Sept. 27, 2023. Egypt is aiming at reaching 30 million visitors by 2028, as its once-thriving tourism sector has begun to recover from the fallout of the coronavirus pandemic and the grinding war in Europe, Egypt’s Tourism and Antiquities Minister Ahmed Issa said during an interview with the Associated Press. (AP Photo/Amr Nabil)

A Toursit watches antiquities at the Egyptian Museum in Cairo, Egypt, Wednesday, Sept. 27, 2023. Egypt is aiming at reaching 30 million visitors by 2028, as its once-thriving tourism sector has begun to recover from the fallout of the coronavirus pandemic and the grinding war in Europe, Egypt’s Tourism and Antiquities Minister Ahmed Issa said during an interview with the Associated Press. (AP Photo/Amr Nabil)

A Toursit watches the seated statue of king Khasekhemwy, last king of the 2nd Dynasty of Egypt, at the Egyptian Museum in Cairo, Egypt, Wednesday, Sept. 27, 2023. Egypt is aiming at reaching 30 million visitors by 2028, as its once-thriving tourism sector has begun to recover from the fallout of the coronavirus pandemic and the grinding war in Europe, Egypt’s Tourism and Antiquities Minister Ahmed Issa said during an interview with the Associated Press. (AP Photo/Amr Nabil)

A worker shows a Lotus flower to be returned to the new planned fountain at the garden of the Egyptian museum in Cairo, Egypt, Wednesday, Sept. 27, 2023. Egypt is aiming at reaching 30 million visitors by 2028, as its once-thriving tourism sector has begun to recover from the fallout of the coronavirus pandemic and the grinding war in Europe, Egypt’s Tourism and Antiquities Minister Ahmed Issa said during an interview with the Associated Press. (AP Photo/Amr Nabil)

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CAIRO (AP) — Egypt is seeking to double the number of visitors to the country in the next five years, its top tourism official told The Associated Press.

Egypt is aiming at reaching 30 million visitors by 2028, as its once-thriving tourism sector recovers from the fallout of the coronavirus pandemic and the grinding war in Europe following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Tourism and Antiquities Minister Ahmed Issa said Tuesday.

“We’re seeing unparalleled demand, unprecedented demand for travel into Egypt,” Issa said in an interview.

He said Egypt had received 10 million tourists in the first eight months of 2023, and was “well on track to achieve around 15 million this year, which is going to be a record year for the tourism industry.”

The sector is a major source of foreign currency for the cash-strapped North African country. Last year, tourism revenues surged to $10.7 billion, up from around $5 billion in 2021, according to the Egyptian central bank.

The government’s plan focuses on what he calls the “supply side,” which includes increasing the number of hotel rooms in the country and seats on flights to Egypt by more than 30% annually, as well as encouraging more private investment in the tourism sector.

Issa said they would add 25,000 hotel rooms to Egypt’s current capacity of about 210,000. Such an increase, he said, would help the government achieve its target of 18 million tourist visits in 2024.

“That will be the fastest growth in (hotel) rooms in Egypt over the past 20 years,” he said.

Egypt has made a years-long effort to revive its battered tourism industry. The sector was badly hit during and after the popular uprising in 2011 that toppled longtime autocrat Hosni Mubarak and the ensuring unrest. The country received over 14 million tourists in 2010.

The coronavirus, followed by the Russian invasion of Ukraine, dealt another blow, just as the sector was getting back on its feet.

In recent years, the government has touted its ancient history as a major selling point. It has publicized pharaonic discoveries, building and renovating museums and tourist sites across the country.

Issa spoke to the AP from the Egyptian Museum in Cairo, a neoclassical structure built in the late 19th century and the first purpose-built museum in the Middle East and North Africa.

The museum is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Cairo, drawing an average of 10,000 visitors a day, said museum director Ali Abdel-Halim. It holds tens of thousands of antiquities in its collection, some of which have never been exhibited.

In recent years, the government has embarked on renovating the museum, in cooperation with five major institutions in Europe, including the British Museum and the Louvre in Paris, Abdel-Halim said.

The four-phase project, which is partly financed by the European Union, includes a renovation of the entire building, which was designed by the famed French architect Marcel Dourgnon.

For decades, the museum in central Cairo was the main facility housing Egyptian heritage treasures. But in recent years, the the government transferred many artifacts — such as the prized royal mummies — to the newly opened National Museum of Egyptian Civilization and the Grand Egyptian Museum , a mega-project which has been under construction for well over a decade near the famed Giza Pyramids.

Issa said they were working to finish construction and complete the installation by the end of the year, and the museum would be ready for its opening ceremony “very soon.”

He said they are working to set a date for the ceremony when many world leaders can attend.

“It’s going to be a magnificent day for ... the entire humanity that is interested in history and culture and archaeology and heritage,” he said.

• Thursday, 16 May 2024

Egypt records 46% increase in number of tourists in 2022: Minister

Ahram online , thursday 16 mar 2023.

Egypt received 11.7 million tourists in 2022, up from eight million in 2021, marking a 46.2 percent increase, said Minister of Tourism and Antiquities Ahmed Issa on Wednesday.

The number of visitors to Egypt is expected to increase by 28 percent this year to 15 million, Issa added in a meeting with Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly.

Travellers to Egypt increased by 35 percent in January and February, compared to the same months of 2022, he noted.

During the meeting, Madbouly said the recent growth in the number of tourists was the result of a host of key measures the government has adopted over the past year.

Egypt has been working to ensure the recovery of the tourism industry, one of the country’s leading economic sectors, after it was hit by the  coronavirus pandemic  and the  Russia-Ukraine war .

The Russian and Ukrainian markets are among the largest markets for tourism to Egypt.

The government took  numerous measures  to stimulate the sector, including deciding in January to allow 180 nationalities to obtain tourist visas on arrival to Egypt provided they have a valid and used visa on their passports for either the United Kingdom, the United States, New Zealand, Japan, or the Schengen countries.

The Ministry of Transport also launched in September its first-ever online platform to regulate the entry of yacht trips into the country as part of a newly developed strategy to leverage the country’s unique strategic geographical location and long coastal lines.

Promoting tourism has gained further urgency in Egypt amid the global economic crisis, which has put pressure on the local currency and caused Egypt to face a shortage in foreign currency.

Egypt targets  tourism investments  of EGP 7.4 billion in FY2022/2023, compared to EGP 6.2 billion in FY2021/2022, according to a statement by Minister of Planning and Economic Development Hala El-Said in December.

Egyptian Minister of Tourism

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Egypt: Number of Visitors Grows by 85% in First Half of 2022 Compared to Same Period Last Year

As Egypt opened its museums and archaeological sites to tourists for free on Tuesday to mark World Tourism Day, the country’s Central Agency for Public Mobilization and Statistics announced that a round 4.9 million tourists visited Egypt in the first half of 2022, an 85.4% increase compared to the same period last year. Hotel occupancy also grew in 2022, though not as much; during the first six months of 2022, it was 52.6 million nights, a 63.6% increase compared to the first half of 2021. In all of 2021, 8 million tourists visited Egypt, a 117.5% increase over 2020, when 3.7 million people visited the country.

The “rise in numbers of tourists visiting Egypt in 2021 and the first half of 2022 is a good indication of recovery after the COVID-19 that caused a sharp decline in numbers due to the policies of the lockdown imposed worldwide,” said Ashraf al-Sahah, a member of the Egyptian Tourism Federation.

Before the pandemic, tourism was breaking records in Egypt: Revenue from tourism hit a peak in 2019 at $13.03 billion, with 13.1 million people arriving that year as tourists.

Tourism and Antiquities Minister Ahmed Issa said that the country had set an ambitious goal to increase the number of foreign tourists by 25 to 30% annually. To achieve this, the ministry would invest in improved hotels and shopping malls and would raise the quality of services the country offered to tourists, whether in airports or taxis, on the streets of the country’s cities, or elsewhere. Issa also said his ministry and the aviation ministry would work together to increase the capacity of airports and the number of flights available. “The tourism industry is one of the main pillars of the national economy, and it is linked with many complimentary industries and contributes to providing job opportunities directly and indirectly,” he said at the Egyptian Museum in Cairo’s Tahrir Square.

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Egypt’s tourism sector breaks records as visitor numbers soar.

https://arab.news/w53kn

• Hotel room capacity to be lifted by half a million with 30m tourists tipped by 2028
• The surge in tourism can be credited to Egypt’s standing as a tourist hub

CAIRO: Egypt’s tourism sector has experienced a boom over the past three years, with visitor numbers growing from 4.9 million two years ago to a projected 15 million or more this year, according to figures released by the Central Agency for Public Mobilization and Statistics. In 2020, around 4.9 million tourists visited Egypt — a figure constrained by the global pandemic, which led to flight bans and other precautionary restrictions. Hossam Hazza, a member of the Egypt Tourism Chamber, said that about 21 million tourists are likely to visit Egypt next year. He said the positive trend follows efforts to reinvigorate the sector in the wake of the pandemic, including promotions to enhance Egypt’s global image and encourage low-cost aviation.

The surge in tourism can be credited to Egypt’s standing as a tourist hub, a global eagerness to travel, and a strategic marketing approach leveraging social media and advertising campaigns. Hossam Hazza , a member of the Egypt Tourism Chamber

The surge in tourism can be credited to Egypt’s standing as a tourist hub, a global eagerness to travel, and a strategic marketing approach leveraging social media and advertising campaigns, he added. Effective ground strategies paired with adept marketing have been pivotal in rejuvenating the tourism sector, Hazza said. He praised the improved standard of tourist accommodation, which receives over a 90 percent positivity rate in reviews. Hazza said that Egypt aims to attract 30 million tourists by 2028. Tourism expert Mustafa Al-Akhal said the industry’s growth has been fueled by simplified visa procedures and a growing range of tourist destinations in Egypt. He highlighted Egypt’s readiness to welcome tourists following the pandemic, saying that this was not mirrored in some other markets. Additional factors such as easier on-arrival or online visa applications through the Visa to Egypt website, stable security conditions and favorable diplomatic ties have helped to boost visitor numbers. He said that hotel room capacity in Egypt will need to increase by around half a million to accommodate the goal of 30 million visitors by 2028. In May, the Egyptian government announced that April 2023 marked a historic high in monthly inbound tourism, with 1.35 million visitors. Tourism and Antiquities Minister Ahmed Issa said that 11.7 million tourists visited in 2022, compared with 8 million the previous year, and projected that over 15 million tourists will visit Egypt this year.

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Tunisian bar association accuses policemen of torturing a lawyer during detention.

• Lawyer Souad Boker said Zagrouba appeared on Wednesday before the investigating judge in a exhausted state
• Lawyer Mahdi Zagrouba was arrested after he criticized the president for detaining Sonia Dahmani, another lawyer, during the weekend

TUNIS: Tunisian lawyer Mahdi Zagrouba was tortured by police officers after being arrested on Monday, lawyers and a human rights organization said on Wednesday after he collapsed in court and was taken to a hospital.

The Interior Ministry did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment. Lawyer Souad Boker said Zagrouba appeared on Wednesday before the investigating judge in a exhausted state, adding that “he mentioned the names of the policemen who tortured him before he suffered a collapse and coma.” Witnesses and lawyers said that Zagrouba was taken to the hospital in an ambulance. TAP state news agency quoted Zarouba’s attorney, Boubaker Ben Thabet, as saying Zagrouba had been subjected to “systematic torture” during his detention. Toumi Ben Farhat, another lawyer representing Zagrouba, said his colleague “was subjected to extremely severe torture.” Tunisian police stormed the bar association’s headquarters on Monday for the second time in two days and arrested Zagrouba, who has criticized the president, after detaining Sonia Dahmani, another lawyer, during the weekend. Bassam Trifi, the head of the Tunisian League for Human Rights, said that “Zagrouba was subjected to brutal torture, and I personally witnessed the torture on his body.” Without referring to the allegations, President Kais Saied said in a statement after a meeting with Minister of Justice Laila Jafel that the state is responsible for guaranteeing every prisoner the right to treatment that preserves his dignity. The Bar Association said in a statement late on Wednesday that torture deserves criminal prosecution, and that it held the Ministry of Interior officers responsible. It said a strike was planned for Thursday. Saied took office after free elections in 2019, but two years later he shut down the elected parliament and has ruled by decree.

The European Union said on Tuesday it was concerned about the wave of imprisonment of many civil society figures, journalists and political activists, and demanded clarifications from Tunisia.

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Sudan facing ‘inferno’ of violence, crushing aid holdups: un.

• The grim situation is only expected to worsen

United Nations, US: Residents of conflict-hit Sudan are “trapped in an inferno of brutal violence” and increasingly at risk of famine due to the rainy season and blocked aid, the UN’s humanitarian coordinator for the country warned Wednesday. Tens of thousands of people have died and millions have been displaced since war broke out in April 2023 between the army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). “Famine is closing in. Diseases are closing in. The fighting is closing in and there’s no end in sight,” Clementine Nkweta-Salami told a press conference. The grim situation is only expected to worsen, with “just six weeks before the lean season sets in, when food becomes less available, and more expensive.” Noting that more than four million people are facing potential famine, Nkweta-Salami added that the onset of the country’s rainy season means that “reaching people in need becomes even more difficult.” The area’s planting season also “could fail if we aren’t able to procure and deliver seeds for farmers,” she said. And “after more than a year of conflict, the people of Sudan are trapped in an inferno of brutal violence.” “In short, the people of Sudan are in the path of a perfect storm that is growing more lethal by the day,” Nkweta-Salami warned, adding that the humanitarian community needs “unfettered access to reach people in need, wherever they are.” The United Nations has expressed growing concern in recent days over reports of heavy fighting in densely populated areas as the RSF seeks control of El-Fasher, the last major city in the western Darfur region not under its control. “Right now the humanitarian assistance they rely on can’t get through,” Nkweta-Salami said. More than a dozen UN trucks loaded with medical equipment and food, which left Port Sudan on April 3, have still not reached El Fasher, she said, “due to insecurity and delays in getting clearances at checkpoints.”

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Israel pm says no humanitarian crisis as hundreds of thousands flee rafah.

RAFAH, Palestinian Territories: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday insisted there was no “humanitarian catastrophe” in Rafah, even as hundreds of thousands fled the south Gaza city amid intense fighting. Hamas meanwhile insisted it would take part in any decision on the post-war government of Gaza as Palestinians marked the 76th anniversary of the “Nakba,” when around 760,000 Palestinians fled or were driven from their homes during the 1948 creation of Israel. Israeli forces have bombed Hamas militants around Gaza’s far-southern city of Rafah, but clashes have also flared again in northern and central areas which Israeli troops first entered months ago. The upsurge in urban combat has fueled US warnings that Israel, which launched its war after the October 7 Hamas attacks, risks being bogged down in years of counterinsurgency. But despite previous threats by US President Joe Biden to withhold some arms deliveries over Netanyahu’s insistence on attacking Rafah, his administration informed Congress on Tuesday of a new $1 billion weapons package for Israel, official sources told AFP. The European Union urged Israel to end its military operation in Rafah “immediately,” warning failure to do so would “inevitably put a heavy strain” on ties with the bloc. But even as he announced that hundreds of thousands had been “evacuated,” Netanyahu insisted there was no humanitarian crisis in Rafah.

“Our responsible efforts are bearing fruit. So far, in Rafah, close to half a million people have been evacuated from the combat zones. The humanitarian catastrophe that was spoken about did not materialize, nor will it,” he said. The United Nations agency for Palestinian refugees, UNWRA, meanwhile said “600K people have fled Rafah since military operations intensified.”

The sight of desperate families carrying scant belongings through the ruins of war-scarred Gaza cities has evoked for many the events of the 1948 Nakba which translates from Arabic as “catastrophe.” Hamas declared in a Nakba Day statement that “the ongoing suffering of millions of refugees inside Palestine and in the diaspora is directly attributed to the Zionist occupation.” Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh insisted meanwhile that the militant movement will be involved in deciding post-war rule in Gaza along with other Palestinian factions. “We say that the Hamas movement is here to stay ... and it will be the movement and all national (Palestinian) factions who will decide the post-war rule in Gaza,” Haniyeh said in a televised address for Nakba. He also said the fate of truce talks was uncertain because of Israel’s “insistence on occupying the Rafah crossing and on its expansion of the aggression” in the Palestinian territory. “Any agreement must ensure a permanent ceasefire, comprehensive withdrawal (of Israeli forces) from all sectors of the Gaza Strip, a real deal for exchange of prisoners, the return of displaced persons, reconstruction and lifting the siege” of Gaza, Haniyeh said. Thousands marched to mark the day in cities across the Israeli-occupied West Bank, waving Palestinian flags, wearing keffiyeh scarves and holding up symbolic keys as reminders of long-lost family homes. Netanyahu has vowed to destroy Hamas and bring home hostages still held in Gaza.

In a Wednesday interview with CNBC, Netanyahu addressed the tensions with Biden over the offensive, saying: “Yes, we do have a disagreement on Gaza. Rather, on Rafah. But we have to do what we have to do.” Washington has also repeatedly urged Israel to work on a post-war plan for Gaza and supports the goal of a two-state solution, which Netanyahu and his far-right allies strongly oppose. US State Department spokesman Vedant Patel said without a political plan, Palestinian militants “will keep coming back” trapping all sides in “this continued cycle of violence.” Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant on Wednesday said he would “not agree to the establishment of an Israeli military administration in Gaza, Israel must not have civilian control over the Gaza Strip.” The war broke out after Hamas’s October 7 attack on southern Israel which resulted in the deaths of more than 1,170 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally of Israeli official figures.

The militants also seized about 250 hostages, 128 of whom Israel estimates remain in Gaza, including 36 the military says are dead. Israel’s military retaliation has killed at least 35,233 people, mostly civilians, according to the Gaza health ministry, and an Israeli siege has brought dire food shortages and the threat of famine.

Clashes continue The Israeli military said Wednesday its aircraft had “struck and eliminated approximately 80 terror targets” including military compounds, missile launchers and weapons depots. It also reported battles in eastern Rafah and in Jabalia in northern Gaza, where it said it had killed militants, adding troops were also fighting in the Zeitun area.

Hamas’s armed wing also reported its fighters were clashing with troops in the Jabalia area, much of which has been reduced to rubble. At least five people were killed, including a woman and her child, in two Israeli air strikes on Gaza City overnight, Gaza’s civil defense agency said. At the city’s Al-Ahli hospital, a wounded man, his bare chest smeared with blood, lay on a cot while outside several men placed a shrouded corpse in the shade of a tree. Sporadic aid deliveries into Gaza by truck have slowed to a trickle since Israeli forces took control of the Gaza side of the Rafah crossing with Egypt last week. A UK delivery of 100 tons of temporary shelter kits left Cyprus Wednesday on its way to a US-built pier in Gaza, Britain said. Another convoy carrying humanitarian relief goods was ransacked by Israeli right-wing activists on Monday after it had crossed from Jordan through the West Bank.

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Palestinians: our ‘nakba’ in 2023 is worst ever.

• Thousands protest in West Bank, waving Palestinian flags, wearing keffiyeh scarves and holding up symbolic keys as reminders of long-lost family homes

GAZA: As the Gaza war raged on, Palestinians on Wednesday marked the anniversary of the Nakba, or “catastrophe,” of mass displacement during the creation of the state of Israel 76 years ago.

Thousands marched in cities across the Israeli-occupied West Bank, waving Palestinian flags, wearing keffiyeh scarves and holding up symbolic keys as reminders of long-lost family homes.

Inside the besieged Gaza Strip, where the Israel-Hamas war has ground on for more than seven months, scores more died in the fighting sparked by the Hamas attack of Oct. 7.

“Our ‘Nakba’ in 2023 is the worst ever,” said one displaced Gaza man, Mohammed Al-Farra, whose family fled their home in Khan Younis for the coastal area of Al-Mawasi. 

“It is much harder than the Nakba of 1948.”

Palestinians everywhere have long mourned the events of that year when, during the war that led to the establishment of Israel, around 760,000 Palestinians fled or were driven from their homes.

But 42-year-old Farra, whose family was then displaced from Jaffa near Tel Aviv, said the current war is even harder.

“When your child is accustomed to all the comforts and luxuries, and suddenly, overnight, everything is taken away from him ... it is a big shock.”

Thousands marched in the West Bank city of Ramallah, as well as in Nablus, Hebron and elsewhere, carrying banners denouncing the occupation and protesting the war in Gaza.

“There’s pain for us, but of course more pain for Gazans,” said one protester, Manal Sarhan, 53, who has relatives in Israeli jails that have not been heard from since Oct. 7. “We’re living the Nakba a second time.” 

Commemorations and marches — held a day after Israel’s Independence Day — come as the Gaza war has brought a massive death toll and the forced displaced of most of the territory’s 2.4 million people.

A devastating humanitarian crisis has plagued the territory, with the UN warning of looming famine in the north.

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Us working to get american doctors out of gaza, white house says.

• “We’re tracking this matter closely and working to get the impacted American citizens out of Gaza,” Jean-Pierre said
• The Biden administration has been warning Israel against a major military ground operation in Rafah

WASHINGTON: The Biden administration is working to get US doctors out of Gaza, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said on Wednesday, as fighting intensified in the seaside enclave. A group of American doctors from the Palestinian American Medical Association told the Washington Post this week that they were stuck in Gaza after Israel closed the border crossing in the southern city of Rafah. “We’re tracking this matter closely and working to get the impacted American citizens out of Gaza,” Jean-Pierre said. Jean-Pierre said the United States was engaging directly with Israel on the matter. The Biden administration has been warning Israel against a major military ground operation in Rafah, but Jean-Pierre said efforts to get the doctors out are continuing regardless of what happens there. “We need to get them out. We want to get them out and it has nothing to do with anything else,” she said. Israeli troops battled militants across Gaza on Wednesday, including in Rafah, which had been a refuge for civilians, in an upsurge of the more than 7-month-old war that has killed tens of thousands of Palestinians. Gaza’s health care system has essentially collapsed since Israel began its military offensive there after the Oct. 7 cross-border attacks by Palestinian Hamas militants on Israelis. Humanitarian workers sounded the alarm last week that the closure of the Rafah and Kerem Shalom crossings into Gaza could force aid operations to grind to a halt. The Israeli assault on Gaza has destroyed hospitals across Gaza, including Al Shifa Hospital, the Gaza Strip’s largest before the war, and killed and injured health workers.

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After years of recovery following the 2011 revolution, Egypt is once again a sought-after tourist destination. In 2019 the sector contributed LE496.4bn ($30.6bn) to GDP, representing around 9.3% of the total, a 0.2% increase on the previous year. Although the spread of Covid-19 significantly impacted the industry in the first half of 2020, it is expected that growth will resume in 2021. Rising visitor numbers will be supported by the construction of Capital International Airport, which will serve the new capital city starting in late 2020 or early 2021. In addition, new flight routes are expected to open, connecting the country’s resorts and archaeological sites in order to draw in more leisure tourists, which account for around 86% of total visitor spending. It is hoped that the move to establish Egypt as a world leader in antiquities tourism, alongside the development of traditional sun-and-sea offerings, will reinvigorate the sector.

Articles from this Chapter

Steady progress: comprehensive reform and investment in infrastructure support long-term growth obg plus.

After years of recovery following the decrease in tourism that resulted from the 2011 revolution, Egypt is once again attracting international visitors, with annual growth for 2020 projected in double figures. Although the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic significantly impacted the global tourism industry throughout the first half of 2020, it is expected that the growth seen in Egypt’s tourism segment in recent years will likely resume in 2021. Structure & Oversight In 2019 the structure…

Room for more: Investment in hotel infrastructure and a focus on religious tourism are set to boost international arrivals OBG plus

Infrastructure investment is a key pillar under reforms put forward by the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquity (MoTA) in 2018. These reforms recognise the need to develop existing infrastructure and increase overall capacity. Tourist arrivals have risen steadily in recent years, reaching 12.6m in 2019. Although visitor numbers in the first half of 2020 were impacted by the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic, international tourism is expected to resume growth in 2021. Public Investment Identifying…

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Egyptian Streets

Independent Media

Egypt Surpasses 1.35 Million Tourists Milestone in April 2023

By Egyptian Streets

Egypt welcomed a record-breaking number of tourists in April 2023, receiving 1.35 million visitors, according to statements by Minister of Tourism and Antiquities Ahmed Issa during a signing ceremony on Monday, June 5.

The numbers represent a turning point for an industry that has been heavily impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, as the minister added that Egypt anticipates a total of 15 million visitors in 2023, which would surpass the 14.7 million record set in 2010.

The Minister further predicts that Egypt aims to raise the number of tourists it receives over the coming years, reaching 30 million tourists per year by 2028. This is part of the long-term national strategy to grow the industry by 25-30 percent annually.

Egypt’s tourism has been gradually recovering in the last three years. According to figures published by the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, 11.7 million more tourists visited Egypt in 2022 than in 2021 — an increase of 46.2 percent —from eight million. In the same period in 2022, tourism grew by 43 percent during the first three months of this year.

Egypt has also been undertaking several measures to increase the number of tourists it receives. In March of this year, Egypt announced that it will be ​​issuing a multiple-entry visa for a period of five years, with a USD 700 (EGP 21,000) fee, for citizens of 180 countries.

If the tourists already have a valid visa from the United Kingdom, the United States, the Schengen area, Japan, or New Zealand, they will be able to receive the new visa upon arrival from Egypt’s airports.

Citizens of China, India, and Turkey can obtain a visa upon arrival through one of the Egyptian ports.

Egypt also announced that it will now stop accepting cash payments for tourist spots including the Pyramids of Giza, the Egyptian Museum in Tahrir, the Citadel of Salah Al-Din, the Nubia Museum, and the Unfinished Obelisk in Aswan.

This move comes as part of the ministry’s “comprehensive digital transformation strategy,” and follows four months of the application of this system in temples in Aswan.

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Egypt's tourism revenues jump 25.7 percent in the second half of 2022, cbe.

Egypt Today staff

Thu, 04 May 2023 - 01:06 GMT

The Central Bank of Egypt published data revealing that Egypt’s tourism revenues recorded $7.3 billion jumping to 25.7 percent during the second half of 2022.

Egypt’s tourist numbers witnessed an overall growth of 33 percent from the start of the year up to April 2023. Egypt is targeting 15 million tourists in 2023, Amr El-Kady, CEO of Egyptian Tourism Promotion Board, said in an interview with CNBC Arabia.

Egypt's tourism revenues jumped by 25.7 percent during the second half of 2022 to record $7.3 billion, according to data published by the Central Bank of Egypt (CBE) yesterday.

The improvement in tourism revenues is due to the increase in the number of tourist nights by 27.2 percent on an annual basis, to record about 78.4 million nights, and the increase in the number of tourists coming to Egypt by 27.5 percent, to reach about 6.8 million tourists.

In a previous statement, Egypt’s Prime Minister emphasized the Egypt’s commitment to achieving the new budget targets, especially in reaching an initial surplus of GDP and reducing the budget deficit in line with the planned ratios, while expanding the social safety net and addressing the effects of economic challenges.

Earlier this year, the Egyptian Cabinet announced that the tourism sector would be included in the initiative to support the productive sectors, which currently includes the industrial and agricultural sectors, and allocated LE 10 billion for it, bringing the total investment made available through the initiative to LE 160 billion.

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Egypt sets aim of 30% increase in tourist arrivals in 2024 despite war headwinds

Egypt is aiming for an increase of up to 30 per cent in international tourist arrivals this year, despite escalating geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, according to a senior government official.

The North African country expects a 25 per cent to 30 per cent growth in inbound tourists this year, compared with the 27 per cent increase it recorded last year, Ghada Shalaby, Egypt's vice minister for tourism said on the sidelines of the Arabian Travel Market on Tuesday.

The country hosted 14.9 million international visitors last year, surpassing a previous record of 14.7 million visitors in 2010.

“Egypt had seen demand despite the geopolitical issues, which shows that safety is important but also how the travel professionals and the tourists are quite educated about the role of Egypt during this issue that is happening,” Ms Shalaby said.

“There is demand coming into Egypt even to all its destinations, so the numbers speak for themselves.”

The official's remarks come against the backdrop of escalating geopolitical tensions in the Middle East threatening to derail the economies of Egypt, Lebanon, and Jordan, which are all heavily dependent on tourism.

However, since the beginning of the Israel-Gaza war in October, Egypt has attracted 8 million foreign visitors, which underscores the country's safety and stability, Ms Shalaby said.

In the first quarter of this year, Egypt recorded a 3.3 per cent increase in foreign visitors compared to the previous year, according to ministry data. On a year-to-date basis, tourist numbers increased by 2.2 per cent.

Egypt's tourism sector, which makes up about 12 per cent of the country's gross domestic product, was heavily affected by the coronavirus pandemic and the Russia-Ukraine war, which decreased the number of tourists visiting the region and drove up food prices significantly.

Last year, the country announced that it was aiming to double the number of foreign visitors to 30 million by 2028 while encouraging more private investment in the tourism sector.

Investment opportunities

Egypt has been seeking investments to grow development in both its North Coast and South Sinai regions and to finish incomplete projects, Ms Shalaby said, adding that the country was looking to promote cultural tourism in cities such as Luxor, Aswan, and Cairo.

In February, Egypt announced a $35 billion deal with the UAE's sovereign wealth fund ADQ for the development of the Ras El Hekma peninsula.

A total of $150 billion will be invested to develop Ras Al Hekma into a “fully functional urban community and not just a beach resort”, Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly said at the time.

“[It]is a really ambitious project and we're all standing behind it. It's going to provide a mix between hotel rooms, touristic accommodations and long rentals,” Ms Shalaby said.

“The project has been drawn and is on the way for inauguration,” she said without revealing further details.

Ms Shalaby expects growing traffic at Egypt's main north coast centre, El Alamein International Airport, to aid the development of the Mediterranean town.

Egypt, which aims to develop 250,000 hotel rooms as part of a plan to reach a revenue of at least $30 billion per year from its tourism sector, plans to add 25,000 hotel rooms this year, with a higher number of foreign tourists expected from the GCC, India and China.

Tourist arrivals from the six-nation economic bloc of Gulf countries are forecast to surge by 45 per cent this year compared with last year, supported by good airline connectivity, Ms Shalaby said.

“We're also about three hours and a half away from major inbound destinations from Europe, from GCC countries and from near and far east destinations, with direct flights either by … Egypt Air, Cairo Air [and] even the other GCC airlines.”

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Tourists keep flocking to Egypt as conflict rumbles on

• January to April numbers up 27%
• Arab travellers driving increase
• Egypt wants 30m visitors a year in 2030

Egypt’s visitor numbers rose 27 percent in the first four months of 2024, according to its vice minister of tourism and antiquities.

The tourism ministry aims to increase inbound visitors by 25-30 percent this year, as it chases a target of 30 million visitors a year by 2030.

Tourists from Arab countries accounted for the bulk of the increase in the first four months of 2024, said vice minister Ghada Shalaby. The number of Arab visitors from January to April was up 54 percent on the same period in 2023.

Newsletter Get the Best of AGBI delivered straight to your inbox every week

In February the ministry said inbound tourism had continued to increase despite the Israel Hamas war .

Last year 14.9 million tourists travelled to Egypt. This surpassed the previous record of 14.7 million, set in 2010, but just missed the ministry’s 2023 target of 15 million visitors.

Annual tourism revenues increased 8 percent to $13.2 billion. Tourists stayed for an average of 9.5 nights per person in 2023 and spent about $93 a day.

As part of its strategy to attract tourists, Egypt has signed deals with budget airlines such as Wizz and Air Cairo to expand their operations. The UK-based carrier EasyJet also began operating to Cairo last August.

• Pilgrims remain bedrock of Saudi tourism plans
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The government has rolled out initiatives including a tourist visa valid for five years and is allowing more nations’ passport holders to obtain their visas on arrival in Egypt.

Officials are also encouraging multinational hotel operators to increase their capacity. Last month tourism minister Ahmed Issa told reporters that 4,012 hotel rooms had been added in the first quarter of 2024, bringing Egypt’s total to 222,716.

Mohamed Kaoud, a hospitality consultant at Colliers International, said he believed the government is on track to meet its 2030 target. He pointed to high growth in tourists visiting the north coast, Hurghada and Cairo, as well as people travelling to visiting Egypt on business. 

The World Travel & Tourism Council estimates that the industry accounted for more than 8 percent of Egypt’s GDP in 2023 and provided about 2.5 million jobs.

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Statistics about Travel, Tourism & Hospitality in Egypt

• Share of business travel trip bookings in the Middle East by mode 2018
• Number of Egyptian delegates abroad in scientific missions 2015-2022, by gender
• Share of business travel trip bookings in the Middle East by executor 2018
• Share of business travel trip searches in the Middle East by mode 2018
• Share of business travel trip payments in the Middle East by method 2018
• Share of leisure and business tourist spending Egypt 2019-2022, by segment
• Share of business travel trip searches in the Middle East by executor 2018
• Number of inbound tourist arriving by road transport Egypt 2008-2019
• Number of tourists from Egypt in Israel 2018-2022
• Number of outbound tourist departures Egypt 2009-2014
• Number of tourists who traveled on a package tour Egypt 2009-2018
• Number of tourist arrivals Egypt 2010-2022
• Respondents from MENA preference of Iftar location during Ramadan 2022
• Number of inbound tourist arrivals for leisure Egypt 2008-2019
• Inbound one-day visitor arrivals in Egypt 2008-2019
• Share of hotel market profits Cairo in Egypt 2018 by department
• Share of hotel market profits Sharm El Sheikh in Egypt 2018 by department
• Share of hotel market non-operating expenses Cairo in Egypt 2018 by category
• Average daily rate of hotels in MENA 2021, by selected city
• Hotel occupancy rate in MENA 2021, by selected city
• Hotel ADR change across Sharm El Sheikh in Egypt FY 2015 - FY 2018
• Number of rooms in hotels and similar establishments Egypt 2008-2019
• Hotel occupancy change rate across Hurghada in Egypt FY 2015 - FY 2018
• Hotel occupancy change rate across Alexandria in Egypt FY 2015 - FY 2018
• Share of hotel market non-operating costs Sharm El Sheikh in Egypt 2018 by category
• Hotel ADR change across Hurghada in Egypt FY 2015 - FY 2018
• Hotel occupancy change rate across Sharm El Sheikh in Egypt FY 2015 - FY 2018
• Hotel occupancy change rate across Cairo in Egypt FY 2015 - FY 2018
• Length of stay of international tourists in commercial accommodations Egypt 2007-2019
• Available capacity of hotels in Egypt 2008-2019
• Number of beds in hotels and similar establishments Egypt 2008-2019
• Number of employees in accommodation service sector Egypt 2010-2015
• Hotel ADR change across Cairo in Egypt FY 2015 - FY 2018
• Number of hotels and similar establishments tourism industry Egypt 2008-2019
• Hotel room occupancy rate Egypt 2008-2019
• Number of nights spent by tourists Egypt 2013-2022
• Travel frequency for private purposes in Egypt 2023
• Number of European tourists arriving in Egypt 2013-2022
• Number of American tourists arriving in Egypt 2013-2022
• Number of tourist arrivals Egypt 2019-2022, by region of origin
• Travel product online bookings in Egypt 2023
• Travel frequency for business purposes in Egypt 2023
• Attitudes towards traveling in Egypt 2023
• Outbound Italian tourists in North Africa 2016, by country visited
• Inbound North African tourists in Italy 2016 by country of origin
• Number of nights spent by tourists Egypt 2019-2022, by region of origin
• Outbound tourism expenditure in Egypt 2008-2021
• Inbound tourism expenditure over current account credits in Egypt 2008-2021
• Outbound tourism expenditure over imports of goods in Egypt 2008-2021
• Average expense at selected beach destinations in Egypt, by cost factor 2018
• Inbound tourism expenditure over exports of goods in Egypt 2008-2021
• Tourist expenditure in Egypt 2008-2022
• Inbound tourism expenditure over exports of goods and services in Egypt 2008-2021
• Number of night spent by Arab tourists Egypt 2013-2020
• Travel product bookings in Egypt 2023
• Outbound tourism expenditure over imports of services in Egypt 2008-2021
• Number of German tourist arrivals in Egypt 2012-2017, by month
• Number of Russian tourist arrivals in Egypt 2012-2017, by month
• Tourism openness over GDP Egypt 2008-2020
• Number of tourist arrivals in Egypt 2012-2018, by month
• Share of online travel searches in Egypt by device 2018
• Leading travel companies that comes to mind in Egypt by brand 2018
• Leading travel companies that comes to mind to Middle East by brand 2018
• Number of employees in travel agencies and reservation services Egypt 2010-2015
• Number of inbound tourist arrivals Egypt 2018, by form of trip organization
• Share of domestic travel trips in the Middle East by reason 2018
• Hospitality industry growth rate in MENA by country 2013-2014
• Count of zoos, fish, and plants in Egypt 2017-2021
• Share of travel trips in the Middle East by frequency 2018
• Share of domestic travel trips in the Middle East by frequency 2018
• Share of domestic travel trips in the Middle East by payment method 2018
• Leading offline search points for travel to Middle East by agency 2018
• Share of hotel market segmentation Sharm El Sheikh in Egypt 2018 by segment
• Share of hotel market segmentation Cairo in Egypt 2018 by segment
• Share of payments for travel package in Egypt by method 2018
• Share of payments for travel activities in Egypt by method 2018
• Share of payments for flights in Egypt by method 2018
• Share of travel destination evaluation In Egypt by transportation factors 2018
• Hospitality industry growth rate in Egypt from 2016 to 2018
• Number of international tourist arriving in Egypt 2022, by means of transportation
• Egypt's visa openness to African visitors 2021
• Number of employees in food and beverage servicing activities Egypt 2010-2015
• Real contribution of travel and tourism to GDP in Egypt 2012-2028
• Direct tourism contribution of Cairo to employment of Egypt 2006-2026
• Travel and tourism contribution to employment Egypt 2017, by type
• Number of full-time self-employed females tourism sector Egypt 2010-2015
• Number of employees in tourism sector Egypt 2015, by industry
• Number of wage workers in the tourism sector Egypt 2010-2015
• Net tourism expenditures over GDP Egypt 2008-2020
• Direct tourism contribution to GDP of the Middle East and Africa by city 2016
• Number of full-time self-employed workers in the tourism sector Egypt 2010-2015
• Number of full-time self-employed people tourism sector Egypt 2015, by gender
• Number of full-time wage workers in the tourism sector Egypt 2010-2015
• Number of full-time female employees tourism sector Egypt 2010-2015
• Number of employees in passenger transport services Egypt 2010-2015
• Number of employees in the tourism sector Egypt 2010-2015
• Number of salary employees and self-employed tourism sector Egypt 2010-2015
• Value added of travel and tourism to GDP in Egypt 2019-2023
• Share of domestic and international tourist spending Egypt 2019 and 2022, by origin
• Number of countries with visa free access to Egyptians 2011-2022

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A practical guide to travel in Egypt, from tipping culture to independent touring

From packing tips to advice on haggling, here’s everything you need to know while planning your trip.

Whether you want to sail down the Nile on a felucca, explore ancient temples, browse the museums of Cairo or go trekking in Sinai, there are a few things to bear in mind when planning your trip to Egypt. Here’s what to be aware of when it comes to visas, tipping, guides and more.

Do I need a visa?

Almost all travellers, including visitors from the UK and the EU, need a visa to travel to Egypt. While it’s possible to get a visa on arrival, it saves time at the airport if you apply online in advance. A single-entry tourist visa costs US$25 (£20). If you plan to stay in the resort towns in Sinai for fewer than 15 days, you do not need a visa. Instead, you receive a ‘permission stamp’ in your passport when you land at Sharm el-Sheikh International Airport. While this option is a money saver, the list of places you’re permitted to visit is quite limited — even Ras Mohamed National Park at the southern tip of Sinai is off limits without the full visa.

What should I pack?

Egypt is a majority Muslim country, so it’s respectful for travellers to dress modestly. For all genders, this means covering everything between your shoulders and knees. You will likely be asked to cover up more if you visit a mosque or church.

The tap water is not safe to drink here so bring a water bottle with a filter, such as those from Lifestraw .

Wi-fi ranges from infuriatingly slow to nonexistent across the country, even at five-star hotels. Get mobile data through your service provider at home or buy an Egyptian SIM card when you land at the airport.

Can I pay by card in Egypt?

Cash reigns supreme but you can use a card at some higher-end hotels and restaurants. Take some Egyptian pounds out of a cash machine when you arrive, but be mindful of the fluctuating exchange rate and don’t take more out than you need. For bigger expenses, consider bringing US dollars, the most — and sometimes only — accepted foreign currency.

Tipping, called baksheesh, infiltrates almost every interaction you’ll have. It’s customary to tip nearly everyone you come in contact with, even for services you don’t want or require. Keep small change on hand for toilet attendants, porters, mosque caretakers and guards at temples and tombs.

Should I join a tour or travel independently?

Egypt has been a package-tour destination since the days of Thomas Cook, who first led a group to Egypt in 1869. The country is well set up for tour groups, and many first-time visitors find this option easiest, with guides and transport logistics arranged for you. Egypt’s historic sites have little signage, making a tour guide a necessity for deeper understanding.

Nile cruises generally run between Luxor and Aswan in both directions, but a few make the long journey from Cairo. Trains, planes and buses connect cities along the Nile, and buses or internal flights can take you to the Red Sea coast.

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Egypt, Switzerland mull ways to increase numbers of visiting tourists

• Saturday، 11 May 2024 - 12:35 PM

Minister of Tourism and Antiquities Ahmed Eisa has discussed with Switzerland’s Ambassador in Cairo Yvonne Baumann means to cement tourism cooperation between Egypt and Switzerland.

During their meeting, they also probed mechanisms to promote and increase the numbers of Swiss tourists visiting Egypt.

They discussed means to boost cooperation between tourism bodies and travel agencies of both countries to make more promotion for Egyptian tourist destinations.

The meeting touched upon activities and events that would be organized by the Swiss embassy in Egypt between June 2024 and March 2025 to mark the 90th anniversary on the establishment of Egyptian-Swiss relations.

Both sides also discussed mechanism on encouraging hotel investments under the national strategy of tourism.

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Police on Wednesday appeared to take back control of a lecture hall from pro-Palestinian protesters who for several hours occupied a building at the University of California, Irvine, a university spokesperson said.

Tunisian lawyer Mahdi Zagrouba was tortured by police officers after being arrested on Monday, lawyers and a human rights organisation said on Wednesday after he collapsed in court and was taken to a hospital.

Israel-Gaza latest: Battles rage across Gaza amid upsurge in fighting as Israel targets Rafah

Palestinians are marking the 76th anniversary of the Nakba - or catastrophe - in which Israel forced more than 700,000 people from their homes. The Israeli defence minister is due to provide an update on security matters - amid rising tensions in southern Lebanon and an operation in Rafah.

Wednesday 15 May 2024 17:00, UK

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• Battles rage across Gaza amid upsurge in war as Israel targets Rafah
• US to move forward with $1bn weapons deal for Israel despite Biden statements - reports
• Israeli defence minister to speak later today
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• Today is Nakba Day - a date Palestinians remember the dispossession of their people
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That's all for our live coverage for the moment. 

Our regular updates will continue tomorrow. 

By John Sparks , international correspondent 

They gathered at a roundabout on the highway heading south in a place called Beit Guvrin.

Some carried flags, others carried weapons, but everyone had the same idea.

A determination to stop humanitarian aid from getting to Gaza.

The food and supplies go straight to Hamas, the protesters claim.

"Don't give them anything, they're murderers," one woman told us.

"We're fighting Hamas and by giving this food, do you really think it doesn't go to Hamas?" asked another, disbelievingly.

Their activities have become increasingly effective as protesters target aid shipments originating in neighbouring Jordan on their way to Gaza.

On the highway near Beit Guvrin, we saw the police move in to take positions on the roadside.

But a convoy of 12 lorries, packed with humanitarian supplies, was quickly stopped in its tracks.

Read more from Sparks here ...

These images show evidence of fierce fighting across the Gaza Strip.

Northern, central and southern Gaza have all seen strikes or ground action in the past few days.

See our 11.36am for more detail on fighting reporting today. 

Benjamin Netanyahu has said that Israel will do "what is required" in Rafah, despite US and international opposition to any such plan. 

"We (Israel and the US) do have a disagreement on Gaza - rather, on Rafah," he told American broadcaster MSNBC when asked 

"But we have to do what we have to do," he added.

"And, you know, sometimes you have to... you just have to do what is required to ensure your survival and your future. We cannot continue into the future by having Hamas retake Gaza."

Reports emerged today suggesting that the US would press forward with its massive $1bn weapons package for Israel, despite Joe Biden indiciating previously he would halt any such deal due to concerns over the Rafah incursion (see 1.38pm post). 

"I hope we can see eye to eye with the United States, we're talking to them, but ultimately we do what we have to do to protect the life of our nation," Mr Netanyahu said.

Israel has said that it will destroy four Hamas battalions in the southern city of Rafah. 

Government spokesperson David Mencer also said that the IDF would not necessarily eliminate every Hamas fighter in the Gazan city.

He added that Israel has asked Egypt, which shares a border with Gaza, to open it up to Palestinian civilians who wish to flee the seven-month old war, but that the request has been declined. 

US secretary of of state Antony Blinken has criticised Israel for halting recent progress on the humanitarian front. 

At the very time Israel was taking important steps to improve humanitarian conditions in Gaza, its operation in Rafah has had a "negative impact", he said. 

He called on Israel to commit to a "concrete" plan to improve humanitarian aid access. 

"We do not support and will not support an Israeli occupation. We also of course, do not support Hamas governance in Gaza... We’ve seen where that's led all too many times for the people of Gaza and for Israel. And we also can't have anarchy and a vacuum that's likely to be filled by chaos," he said. 

Israel seized the Gazan side of the Rafah border crossing - the main entry point for aid into the territory.

The crossing has remained closed since that seizure, and humanitarian organisations have desperately called on Egypt and Israel to some to some arrangement to re-open it, with both parties blaming the other for delays. 

The Hamas-run health ministry says at least 35,233 Palestinians have now been killed in Israeli strikes on Gaza since 7 October.

The figures reported by the ministry do not differentiate between fighters and civilians.

A further 79,141 have been injured, it added.

For context: While some Israeli officials have sought to cast doubt on fatality figures given out by the Palestinian Health Authority in Gaza, a number of independent groups say they have proved to be largely reliable and broadly in line with those later produced by the UN and Israel itself.

Examination of data from previous Gaza conflicts - the Hamas-run health ministry's counts compared with the post-war United Nations analysis - shows that the initial data is largely accurate with, at most, a 10-12% discrepancy.

Joe Biden's administration has informed Congress that it is moving ahead with a $1bn weapons deal for Israel, according to reports.

Officials cited by the Wall Street Journal said the deal would include $700m worth of tank ammunition, $500m in tactical vehicles and $60m in mortar rounds.

However, there are still additional steps before the weapons would be approved and delivered.

This comes despite Joe Biden saying he would pause offensive weapons shipments to Israel if it pressed ahead with offensive action in the southern Gazan city of Rafah.

Israel says it has been carrying out "precise" operations in the city. 

The reports also come just days after a US report found Israel's use of American-provided weapons in Gaza likely violated international humanitarian law. 

Yesterday, Israel struck a UNRWA school in Gaza, claiming to have killed "more than 10" Hamas fighters sheltering there. 

Authorities say some 20 people died in the strike in Nuseirat - central Gaza. 

This footage shows Palestinians attempting to clear the rubble.  

Turkey's president has claimed that Israel would seek to occupy parts of Turkey once it concludes its war against Hamas.

"Do not think that Israel will stop in Gaza," Tayyip Erdogan told his MPs from his party in parliament today.

"Unless it's stopped... this rogue and terrorist state will set its sights on Anatolia sooner or later," he said.

The president was referring to the large Turkish peninsula, sometimes known as Asia Minor, that comprises more than half of Turkey's territory.

Turkey and its president have vehemently opposed Israel since it began its war in Gaza.

Mr Erdogan has refused to call Hamas a terror organisation, and has accused Benjamin Netanyahu's government of war crimes. 

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