The ongoing conflict between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas has sparked tensions between Israel and its neighbor Egypt. Egypt has threatened to suspend its peace treaty with Israel and close off the main aid supply route to the Gaza Strip if Israeli troops enter the border town of Rafah. This move comes after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that sending troops into Rafah is necessary to win the four-month-old war against Hamas.
Rafah, a densely populated Gaza border town, has become a refuge for over half of Gaza's population of 2.3 million people who have fled from other areas to escape the violence. The town is now filled with sprawling tent camps and U.N.-run shelters near the border. Egypt is concerned that a mass influx of hundreds of thousands of Palestinian refugees into Rafah could lead to a situation where they may never be allowed to return.
The potential suspension of the Camp David Accords, a cornerstone of regional stability for nearly half a century, puts Israel and Egypt's close relationship at risk. Both countries are allies of the United States. Aid groups have warned that an offensive in Rafah would worsen the already dire humanitarian situation in Gaza, where around 80% of residents have been displaced from their homes and a quarter of the population is facing starvation, according to the United Nations.
Hamas, on the other hand, has warned that any invasion of Rafah would derail talks mediated by the United States, Egypt, and Qatar aimed at achieving a cease-fire and the release of Israeli hostages. Prime Minister Netanyahu has suggested that civilians in Rafah could flee to other cleared areas in the north. However, the offensive in Rafah would likely cause further destruction and could potentially result in the closure of the border crossing, cutting off a vital route for delivering much-needed food and medical supplies.
Egyptian officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, have confirmed their country's threats to suspend the peace treaty and have expressed concerns about the potential humanitarian catastrophe that an Israeli offensive in Rafah could bring. Other countries, including Qatar and Saudi Arabia, have also warned of severe repercussions if Israel proceeds with its plans.
The Camp David Accords, signed between Israel and Egypt in the late 1970s, have largely upheld peace between the two nations, despite their history of five wars. Egypt has heavily fortified its border with Gaza, implementing a buffer zone and concrete walls to prevent smuggling tunnels. However, Egyptian officials fear that if the border is breached, they would not be able to stop a mass exodus of people into the Sinai Peninsula.
The situation in Rafah is dire, with the United Nations describing it as severely overcrowded. The toll of the ongoing conflict continues to rise, with the Gaza Health Ministry reporting 112 deaths and 173 injuries in the past 24 hours alone. Since the start of the war, the death toll in Gaza has reached 28,176. The ministry does not differentiate between civilians and fighters but states that the majority of those killed are women and children.
The war between Israel and Hamas began in October, when Palestinian militants carried out an attack in southern Israel, resulting in the deaths of around 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and the abduction of approximately 250 hostages. A weeklong cease-fire in November allowed the release of over 100 hostages in exchange for 240 Palestinian prisoners. However, Hamas has demanded the end of the Israeli offensive and the release of hundreds more prisoners, which Israel has vehemently rejected.
The ongoing tensions and potential escalation of the conflict between Israel and Hamas not only pose a threat to the stability of the region but also have severe humanitarian consequences. The international community is closely monitoring the situation and urging both parties to prioritize a cease-fire and the protection of civilian lives.
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