Egypt warns Israel, US of ‘rupture’ in ties over influx of Gaza refugees
Egypt has warned the United States and Israel that if Palestinians flee into the Sinai Peninsula from the Gaza Strip due to Israel’s ground offensive.
In the region, there could be a “rupture” in the diplomatic relation between Egypt and Israel, Axios reported. This warning came amid an increasing humanitarian crisis in Gaza owing to relentless Israeli strikes and ground operation, which were launched in retaliation for Palestinian terrorist group Hamas’s October 7 attack.
The ongoing Israel-Hamas war that entered its third month on Thursday has killed more than 16,000 Palestinians so far, according to the Hamas-run Health Ministry in Gaza. Meanwhile, the United Nations said that around 1.9 million Palestinians or roughly 85 per cent of the population have already been displaced inside the Gaza Strip as of December 3.
Since the start of the Israel-Hamas war, Egypt has been concerned regarding the influx of Palestinians into its territory. The country has repeatedly said that it won’t be accepting Palestinian refugees.
In October, it was reported that an Israeli government ministry drafted a wartime proposal to transfer 2.3 million people from Gaza to the Sinai Peninsula, which drew condemnation from both Palestinians and worsening tensions with Egypt.
Displaced Palestinians have been camping near the Rafah crossing border that Gaza shares with Egypt since the beginning of the conflict. This increased in recent days after Israel expanded its ground operation into southern Gaza, especially in Khan Younis, with the belief that Hamas leaders are hiding there.
On Thursday, Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry, who is in Washington, said it would be “inappropriate and in contradiction of international law” if Palestinians from Gaza were displaced in Egypt, according to the Axios report. Calling the inflow of Palestinians into Egypt “not the way to deal with the conflict”, Shoukry said they should not have to leave their territory.
Shoukry along with several other Arab foreign ministers will meet US Secretary of State Antony Blinken about the Israel-Hamas war on Friday.
Egypt’s stance on Palestinian refugees
Egypt, which opened its Rafah border crossing for the passage of humanitarian aid to Gaza, has long restricted the inflow of Palestinian refugees – even during the most intense battles.
During a phone call between Sameh Shoukry and UN Secretary-General Ant³nio Guterres on Wednesday, the Egyptian Foreign Minister reiterated the country’s complete rejection of attempts to displace Palestinians – whether internally or outside the Palestinian Authority (PA).
In an official statement, Egypt said that since the start of the Israel-Hamas war on October 7, the country along with Jordan, have warned against Israel’s plans to relocate Gaza residents to Egypt or Sinai Peninsula – under Egypt’s control, warning that such a move would liquidate the Palestinian cause.
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi said at a conference in November that displacement of Palestinians outside of their lands is a “red line” to Egypt and won’t be accepted.
Sinai Peninsula – A flashpoint between Israel and Egypt
Located in Egypt, Sinai Peninsula is the only part of the country that falls in Asia. Israel invaded the peninsula and occupied the region during the 1956 Suez Crisis, and then again during the 1967 Six-Day War. Egypt tried to retake the Sinai Peninsula from Israel during the 1973 Yom Kippur War, but failed.
The peninsula came back to Egypt after the Egypt-Israel peace treaty was signed in 1982, following which Israel withdrew from every corner of the region.