Rafah, originally designated a “safe zone,” is now the target of Israeli airstrikes (file photo)
Sydney:
About 1.5 million Palestinian civilians are currently crowded into the southern Gaza city of Rafah after repeated Israeli bombings and ground attacks forced them to evacuate south.
The town originally had a population of 250,000 and now houses more than half of Gaza’s population.Their asylum conditions meet the demands of the United Nations’ top aid official Called “Oops,” disease is spreading and famine is imminent.
ICJ amid military attack rule To date, Israel has killed more than 29,000 Palestinians in the Gaza Strip in what appears to be a case of genocide. Now there are growing concerns that an Israeli ground assault on Rafah could force civilians across the border into Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula.
Rafah was originally designated a “safety area”; targeted The same goes for Israeli airstrikes. Those fleeing violence have nowhere to go.
However, Egypt, the only country besides Israel that borders Gaza, refuses to accept Palestinian refugees displaced by Israel.
Report Says Israeli officials have tried to lobby for international support forced egypt Accepting refugees from Gaza.
However, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi has steadfastly refused to allow humanitarian corridors or large numbers of Palestinians into the Sinai Peninsula.He has call it A “red line” that, if crossed, would “annihilate the Palestinian cause.”
In recent days, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, Filippo Grandi, confirmed Egypt’s position.grandi explain He said moving Gazans to Egypt would be “disastrous” for both Egypt and the Palestinians, who might not be allowed to return.
Why Egypt opposes the idea
There are several reasons for Egypt’s opposition.
The first is that Egypt does not want to be seen as facilitating ethnic cleansing By permanently resettling Palestinians outside Gaza.
in October, a leaked document The Israeli intelligence ministry’s recommendations include forcibly moving Gaza’s 2.3 million people out of the territory and to tent cities in Egypt’s Sinai desert.
Government ministers Bezalel Smotrich and Itamar Ben-Gvir also Publicly promote Expelling Palestinians from Gaza to make way for Israeli settlers to replace them.
In addition, in January, a meeting Israel calls for this plan Attend It consists of 11 members of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s cabinet and 15 additional members of parliament.
Netanyahu last month explain Israel “has no intention of permanently occupying Gaza” and he did not stop ministers from discussing it.For example, when asked about the January meeting, he said explain Everyone is “entitled to their own opinion.”
Sisi also has the consciousness of being a strong man gushing The Egyptian public sympathizes with the Palestinians and supports his opposition to any cross-border displacement of people. This is due to solidarity with the Palestinian struggle and recognition of the lessons of history.
Looking back to 1947-49, when An estimated 750,000 fired or forced to flee home During the war over the creation of the state of Israel, Zionist forces, Egypt doesn’t want to be seen Leading to another Nakba or “disaster”.
The total number of refugees from the catastrophe is now approximately 6000000.According to the United Nations, approx. one third Life in a refugee camp, Israel be rejected their right to return to their home country.
Notably, in November, Israeli Agriculture Minister Avi Dichter Announce: “We are launching the Nakba in Gaza now,” adding, “The Nakba in Gaza 2023. This is how it will end.”
Egypt’s complicated relationship with Hamas
Another major concern for Egypt is its security. If Palestinians resettle in the Sinai Peninsula, Egyptian territory could become a new base for resistance. This could drag Egypt into a military conflict with Israel.
Additionally, Sisi has just successfully suppressed Islamist insurgents in North Sinai. Last few years and may worry that an influx of refugees could be destabilizing.
Finally, Sisi may believe that Hamas may oppose his regime.
After the 2013 military coup that overthrew President Mohamed Morsi, Sisi’s regime cracked down on the Muslim Brotherhood and cracked down on all dissent. This extends to the demonization of Hamas, which has its roots in the Palestinian branch of the Muslim Brotherhood.
Between 2014 and 2016, the Egyptian military bombed and flooded tunnels connecting Gaza and Egypt, while Blame Hamas Collusion with the Muslim Brotherhood against the state. It also tightens Israel’s blockade of the Gaza Strip.
That being said, the relationship is not directly antagonistic. Hamas cooperates with Egypt On counter-insurgency operations against the Islamic State in the Sinai Peninsula. Egypt has also played a mediating role in current and past ceasefire negotiations between Hamas and Israel.
However, the latest rounds of talks have made no progress, leading Egypt to nervously escalate its warnings against any Israeli moves on the border.
Egypt and Israel have had a peace treaty since 1979, and relations have grown stronger as Sisi came to power. However, Egypt has threatened If Rafah is invaded, suspend the peace treaty.
Where will the people of Gaza go from here?
Netanyahu has swear A ground invasion of Rafah is advancing in the coming weeks.
Meanwhile, Egypt has begun strengthening border defenses and, according to reports and satellite images, started building a military base. walled buffer zone The Sinai Peninsula covers an area of approximately 21 square kilometers.This shows that Egypt Prepare Palestinians may be expelled or flee.
Although it is not entirely clear whether this was in coordination with Israel or as a “Emergency measuresthe zone will throw Gazans into yet another overcrowded open-air prison, with dire consequences for human rights.
Like countries like Egypt Jordan While Arab states have intensified their opposition to Israel over the past few months, Arab neighbors have taken no action to pressure Israel to halt military operations or significantly improve aid to the Gaza Strip.
In fact, Egypt intermittent shutdown Delays at the Rafah crossing have prevented much-needed aid from entering Gaza.besides Report Egyptian authorities demanded thousands of dollars in bribes from those eager to leave through Rafah, deepening cynicism, despair and ultimately abandonment.
Liana Kayalipostdoctoral researcher, University of Sydney
This article is reproduced from dialogue Licensed under Creative Commons.read Source article.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
