Egyptian soldiers stationed near the Rafah crossing and the Egypt-Palestine border have revealed that several of their comrades were killed by Israeli occupation forces during the ongoing ground invasion in Rafah, located in the southern Gaza Strip.
The “Sunna Files Website” spoke with several Egyptian conscripts who had just completed their mandatory military service. They described the situation at the border as extremely dire, with the sounds of bombardments and gunfire from the Palestinian side being a constant presence.
One of the conscripts, who chose to remain anonymous for fear of reprisals and arrest, reported that in a significant escalation over the past few days, several of his fellow soldiers in the Egyptian army were killed by Israeli occupation forces advancing in Palestinian Rafah. He emphasized that these incidents have been kept under strict secrecy, with orders given not to retaliate against the source of the gunfire.
“We are in a powerless position, witnessing the massacres committed by the occupation against our Palestinian brothers, the killing of children and women by the Israeli occupation (…), as we are instructed to maintain strict discipline and not to respond under any circumstances,” he said.
He added, “Despite the dangers in the area and the constant threat of death, we are filled with deep sorrow and sadness due to our inability to support our brothers in Gaza or stop the crimes of the Israeli occupation.”
Another conscript, who also wished to remain anonymous for security reasons, noted that the Egyptian army has a significant presence in the Egyptian city of Rafah. He mentioned that the sounds of explosions, shelling, and gunfire are incessant, as the Israeli occupation forces carry out demolitions on the Palestinian side.
He reported that the Egyptian army’s current role is limited to conducting patrols in the area, without approaching too close to the border zone, due to the extreme danger and the gunfire reaching the area.
“There have indeed been casualties and injuries within the Egyptian army ranks due to Israeli shelling, but these incidents are not reported in the media, and there are strict orders not to respond to these crimes,” he added.
The Israeli occupation army began its ground operation in the city of Rafah on May 6 and has continued for four consecutive months, causing widespread destruction throughout the city.
Since October 7, the Israeli occupation has waged a devastating war on the Gaza Strip, resulting in over 40,000 deaths, the majority of whom are children and women, along with more than 10,000 missing persons.
