The Rafah crossing between Egypt and the Gaza Strip is open 24/7 but the procedures by Israel to allow the entry of aid are obstructing the process, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi said on Wednesday.

"This is part of how they exert pressure on the issue of releasing the hostages", he added.

(Reporting by Nadine Awadalla, Writing by Clauda Tanios, Editing by Michael Georgy)