Egypt has accelerated its construction of a wall along its border with Gaza, as Israel prepares to launch a ground invasion of the Palestinian city of Rafah, amid the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas.
According to Egyptian officials, more than 3km of the wall have been built in the past week, in addition to the clearance of a large area next to the border, where hundreds of homes and buildings have been demolished.
The wall, which is made of concrete and steel, is intended to prevent the smuggling of weapons and militants from Gaza into Egypt, and to enhance Egypt’s security and sovereignty. The wall is also part of Egypt’s plan to create a “logistical hub” for the delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza, which has been under a crippling Israeli blockade since 2007.
However, the wall has also sparked criticism and controversy, as it has cut off the only lifeline for the people of Gaza, who rely on the underground tunnels to access basic goods and services, such as food, medicine, fuel, and electricity. The wall has also displaced thousands of Palestinians, who have been forced to leave their homes and lands, without adequate compensation or alternative housing.
The wall has also raised fears and concerns among the residents of Rafah, the largest and most densely populated city in Gaza, and the main target of Israel’s planned ground offensive.
Rafah, which is located on the border with Egypt, has seen a huge increase in its population in recent months, as many Palestinians have fled from other parts of Gaza, where Israel has been conducting a relentless aerial and naval bombardment, targeting Hamas’ rocket launchers, tunnels, and command centers.
According to the United Nations, more than 29,000 Palestinians have been killed, and thousands more have been injured, since the war began on October 7. The war has also displaced more than 2,000,000 people, and caused widespread damage and destruction to homes, schools, hospitals, and infrastructure.
The war has also sparked protests and rallies across the world, including in Egypt, where thousands of people have expressed their solidarity and support for the Palestinian cause, and their anger and resentment towards Israel and its allies, especially the US.
No Ceasefire in sight
Egypt, which is the only Arab country that has a peace treaty with Israel, and which has been mediating between Israel and Hamas to broker a ceasefire, has said that it is opposed to any ground invasion of Gaza, and that it is working to prevent it.
Egyptian authorities have said that they have “no provisions” for hosting or sheltering any displaced Palestinians from Rafah, and that they have closed the Rafah border crossing, the only official crossing point between Gaza and Egypt, except for medical and humanitarian cases.
Egyptian authorities have also said that they have increased their security and military presence on the border, and that they have coordinated their actions and plans with Israel, to avoid any clashes or misunderstandings.
Egyptian authorities have also said that they have urged Israel to exercise restraint and to respect the rights and dignity of the Palestinian people, and that they have called for an immediate and unconditional ceasefire, and for a resumption of the peace talks, based on the two-state solution.
However, Israel has rejected Egypt’s appeals, and has vowed to continue its military operation until it achieves its goals of stopping Hamas’ rocket fire and destroying its capabilities. Israel has also said that it has the right and the duty to defend itself and its citizens from Hamas’ attacks, and that it is doing everything possible to avoid harming civilians in Gaza.
Israel has also said that it is ready to launch a ground invasion of Rafah, which it considers as a “terrorist stronghold” and a “strategic threat”, and that it has mobilized thousands of troops and tanks near the border, waiting for the green light from the government.
Israel has also said that it has warned the residents of Rafah to evacuate their homes and to move to safer areas, and that it has dropped leaflets and made phone calls to inform them of the impending attack.
However, many residents of Rafah have said that they have nowhere to go, and that they have decided to stay and resist the invasion. They have also said that they are prepared to face the worst, and that they will not give up their land and their rights.
They have also said that they hope that Egypt will not abandon them, and that it will stand by them and support them, in their hour of need.
