In anticipation of an Israeli military offensive in the Gaza Strip, Egypt is constructing a significant wall and leveling land near its border with Gaza, specifically targeting the city of Rafah. This action, not formally acknowledged by Egypt, comes amid warnings to Israel against forcibly displacing over a million Palestinians from Rafah into Egyptian territory. Despite these warnings, the construction suggests Egypt is preparing for the possibility of a mass exodus of Palestinians, a scenario that could challenge the longstanding 1979 peace accord between Egypt and Israel, a cornerstone of regional stability.
Satellite imagery has revealed ongoing construction activities including the erection of cranes, trucks, and concrete barriers along the Zuweid-Rafah Road, west of the Gaza border. These developments indicate the establishment of a high-security area, potentially in preparation to house Palestinian refugees in the event of a mass displacement.
Egyptian officials, while maintaining silence on the construction, have issued warnings regarding Israel’s potential offensive and its implications for Palestinian displacement. The construction includes an 8-square-mile walled enclosure capable of accommodating over 100,000 people, indicating Egypt’s preparations for a refugee influx, despite efforts to avoid it. This initiative is seen as a contingency plan, with Egypt aiming to limit refugee numbers significantly below the enclosure’s capacity.
The Israeli government, under Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, has hinted at the possibility of pushing Palestinians out of Gaza, a move strongly opposed by the United States and fraught with implications for the Palestinians’ aspirations for a future state. Israel’s defense minister has stated there are no intentions to evacuate Palestinian civilians to Egypt, emphasizing respect for the peace treaty with Egypt. However, a proposal from Israel’s Intelligence Ministry suggests relocating Gaza’s civilian population to northern Sinai, further complicating the humanitarian situation.
This development occurs amid ongoing violence that has devastated Gaza and resulted in significant civilian casualties, nearest estimates placing the number at a staggering 28,700. Egyptian efforts to manage potential refugee flows hint at further complications and casualties.
