By Riches Soberekon
Egypt is taking measures to prevent a large number of Palestinians from leaving Gaza amidst the ongoing bombardment by Israel.
Although Egypt has not officially commented on the situation at Rafah, state-run Ahram Online reported on Tuesday that high-level Egyptian security sources have warned against allowing Gazans to settle in Sinai. I
nstead, they urged Israel to ensure safe passage for civilians.
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi has expressed concern over the dangerous escalation in Gaza and stated that Egypt is actively seeking a negotiated solution to the violence with the involvement of regional and international partners.
According to the United Nations, over 187,000 Palestinians in Gaza have been displaced, adding to the strain on the already densely populated area, which is home to 2.3 million people.
The movement of people and goods in and out of Gaza is tightly controlled due to the blockade enforced by Egypt and Israel.
Rafah serves as the only crossing point between Gaza and Sinai, as the rest of the strip is surrounded by sea and Israel. On Wednesday, the crossing remained closed, with the Egyptian military stationed nearby to monitor the situation.
Egypt is particularly concerned about the security situation in Sinai, as it has been the site of an Islamist insurgency that emerged about a decade ago.
While the Egyptian military has largely gained control over northern Sinai in recent years, sporadic attacks still occur. Egypt’s focus is on maintaining stability in the region and preventing any further deterioration of security.
