Ahmed Abu Zeid, the spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, stated that Egypt has issued numerous strong warnings to the Israeli side to avoid a military operation in Rafah, recognizing its grave humanitarian implications for the region.
During an interview with journalist Nashaat El Deheiny on the “With Paper and Pen” program on Tuesday, he emphasized that Rafah serves as the last safe haven for Palestinians in Gaza, sheltering 1.4 million Palestinians. He pointed out that any irresponsible Israeli action towards Rafah reflects Israel’s brinkmanship policy, endangering the humanitarian situation.
He affirmed that the timing of the military operation coincides with a critical and sensitive period in the negotiation process between the Palestinian and Israeli sides, stating, “It is inconceivable to conduct negotiations amidst military interventions in Rafah and Israeli control over the Palestinian side of the Rafah crossing. All of this is beyond comprehension, and we cannot consider this responsible behavior in any way.”
Abu Zeid considered Israeli military operations in Rafah a serious threat to the negotiation process, emphasizing that Israel’s insistence on seizing the Palestinian side of the Rafah crossing amounts to strangling the Gaza Strip, which serves as the main lifeline for Palestinians in the region, constituting a blatant violation of international law.
Earlier, the office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reported that the Israeli Security Cabinet unanimously decided to continue the military operation in Rafah to exert military pressure on Hamas, facilitate the release of Israeli hostages, and achieve other war objectives.
On May 6, the Times of Israel reported that the Israeli army had begun evacuating civilians from the eastern neighborhoods of Rafah in preparation for a planned military operation.
The Israeli army seized control of the Palestinian side of the Rafah border crossing on the Gaza-Egypt border on Tuesday.
The Israeli army spokesperson’s office stated that Israeli forces conducted a targeted operation against Hamas elements in the eastern part of Rafah.
