Context:
Recently, the area of the Rafah Border Crossing has been reportedly hit by a military strike.
Relevance:
Places in News
Dimensions of the Article:
- Rafah Crossing Overview
- Key Facts about Sinai Peninsula
Rafah Crossing Overview:
- Rafah Crossing is located at the southern end of the Gaza Strip, a narrow territory housing approximately 2.3 million people.
- It is situated between Israel, Egypt, and the Mediterranean Sea.
- This crossing is under the control of Egypt.
- Rafah Crossing represents a crucial and often the sole humanitarian route for aid to enter the Gaza Strip from Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula.
- There are only two other border crossings in the Gaza region: Erez, a border crossing with Israel in northern Gaza, and Kerem Shalom, a commercial crossing connecting Israel and southern Gaza.
Key Facts about Sinai Peninsula:
- The Sinai Peninsula is a triangular landmass in northeastern Egypt.
- It serves as a land bridge, connecting the continents of Asia and Africa.
- Boundaries:
- To the north, it is bordered by the Mediterranean Sea.
- To the east, it shares borders with Israel and the Gaza Strip.
- The Sinai’s western boundary is defined by the Suez Canal, separating it from the African part of Egypt.
- The Gulf of Suez lies to the southwest.
- To the immediate south, it is bordered by the Red Sea.
- The Gulf of Aqaba defines its southeastern boundary.
- Egypt has maritime boundaries in the Sinai region, sharing them with Jordan and Saudi Arabia.
-Source: The Hindu