Egypt Refutes Claims of Involvement in Gaza
Egypt has vehemently denied allegations of involvement in any process related to the displacement of Palestinians from the Gaza Strip into the Sinai Peninsula, according to a statement from the State Information Service (SIS) on Friday. The denial comes in response to reports from four sources, including Reuters and the Wall Street Journal, suggesting that Egypt is preparing an area at the Gaza border as a precautionary measure to accommodate Palestinians in the event of an Israeli offensive prompting an exodus into the Sinai Peninsula.
Diaa Rashwan, the head of SIS, emphasized Egypt’s firm stance against any forced or voluntary displacement of Palestinians from Gaza to Egyptian territory. He declared such a scenario would constitute a “definite liquidation of the Palestinian cause and a direct threat to Egyptian sovereignty and national security.”
The Sinai Foundation for Human Rights, an activist organization, published images showing construction activity in the specified area, including trucks and cranes, along with images of concrete barriers along the border. Rashwan dismissed these measures, stating that Egypt had long maintained a buffer zone and barriers in the region to secure its borders and territorial sovereignty.
Rashwan condemned any form of displacement as a “crime advocated by some Israeli parties” and affirmed that Egypt would take all necessary measures to prevent it. Earlier in the week, Egypt hosted talks involving the U.S., Israel, and Qatar on the possibility of a Gaza truce. An Egyptian source expressed optimism that the discussions could prevent the need for displacement and lead to a ceasefire.
