Egypt is reportedly taking precautionary measures by preparing an area at the Gaza border to accommodate Palestinians in the event of an Israeli offensive into Rafah. However, Egypt officially denies making any preparations. Three security sources have confirmed the preparations to various media outlets, noting that it is a contingency step.
Construction of the camp near the Gaza border reportedly began three or four days ago. The camp aims to offer temporary refuge until a resolution is reached.
Concerns have been raised about the possibility of an Israeli offensive displacing Palestinians into Sinai, a scenario deemed completely unacceptable by Cairo. Jordan and other Arab states have also issued warnings about the consequences of Israel’s actions in Gaza. The US expresses concern over the lack of a plausible evacuation plan for a potential Israeli ground attack on Rafah, emphasising the disastrous consequences for the 1.4 million people residing in the area.
The UN aid chief Martin Griffiths called Israel’s plans to evacuate civilians from Rafah within Gaza an “illusion.” He warned of the potential for Palestinians to spill into Egypt if Israel launches a military operation in Rafah, describing such a scenario as “a sort of Egyptian nightmare.”
Egypt’s opposition to the displacement of Palestinians from Gaza is rooted in a broader Arab rejection of a recurrence of the Nakba, symbolising the catastrophic displacement of around 700,000 Palestinians during the war surrounding Israel’s establishment in 1948.
Meanwhile, the Palestinian ambassador to the UK, Husam Zomlot, has revealed that eight of his family members, including seven-year-old Sidra Hassouna, were killed in Israeli attacks.
Israel’s incursion into Khan Younis’ Nasser Hospital has led to the deaths of at least four patients due to severed electricity and cut oxygen supplies. Prime Minister Netanyahu labelled it a “huge reward to unprecedented terrorism.” Ongoing concerns persist about the impact of military actions on essential healthcare infrastructure in the Gaza region, with reports of power cuts causing fatalities in medical facilities.
Since the start of its war on Gaza on 7 October, Israel has killed 28,775 Palestinians, mostly women and children, and wounded 68,552 others.
