Israel denied reports that it has agreed to a ceasefire in southern Gaza as hundreds queue up at the Rafah border, hoping to flee the strife-torn region. Earlier on Monday, Reuters, quoting Egyptian security sources, reported that the ceasefire will begin at 6am (GMT), to coincide with the opening of the Rafah border crossing.
Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office, however, denied the reports of Tel Aviv agreeing to this ceasefire, AP reported. With Gaza, home to over 2 million people under siege, the Rafah crossing is the only possible exit from the Hamas-governed territory.
Why is Egypt concerned?
Controlled by Egypt, Rafah is on the border between the Gaza Strip and Egypt's Sinai Peninsula. However, as per a 2007 agreement, supplies coming into Gaza through Rafah crossing require Israeli approval. Though Egypt has been in discussion with the US to allow humanitarian aid through the border, it has rejected moves to set up evacuation corridors for refugees from Gaza. Egypt has kept the border closed to restrict the flow of Gazans into its territory even during previous Israeli bombardments in Gaza in 2008, 2014 and 2021, the Guardian stated.
Countries like the US and UK have been mediating with Egypt to get the Rafah border opened to allow the safe passage of its nationals stranded in the region which plunged into crisis after the deadly attack by Hamas militants, and the subsequent Israeli retaliation. The US is also focused on getting Palestinians with dual nationality out through Rafah if they wish.
Egypt has so far been reluctant to open the crossing for civilians, unless Israel allows aid to enter the Gaza Strip. Videos by international media outlets showed trucks, carrying aid to Gaza, stranded near the Rafah crossing. Aid flights from Jordan, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, the World Health Organisation, and the Red Cross have arrived in the Egyptian city of El-Arish, approximately 45 km away from Rafah, CNN reported.
Egypt is concerned that an opening of the crossing could lead to the mass influx of Palestinians into Sinai as Israel pounds Gaza with airstrikes and gears up for a full-scale ground incursion. According to Egyptian media, the country is under international pressure to accept refugees amid speculations that western countries could offer economic incentives for the deal.
Earlier this week, Egyptian President Abdel Fateh el-Sisi said he 'sympathised' with Gazans, but added that “we must reach peace and safety in a manner that does not cost us so much”. Egypt, in the throes of a financial crisis, is already home to 9 million migrants already from Sudan, Syria, Yemen and Libya. Israel's call for evacuation had already triggered fears of the repeat of 'Nakba' or catastrophe of 1948 when thousands of Palestinians fled towards Egypt amid the Israel war.
