The Israeli Broadcasting Authority quoted unnamed political sources as saying, “Gaza residents will be evacuated from the Rafah area before the start of military operations there.” It indicated that “Israel is also considering the possibility of allowing the return of Gaza residents from the southern to the northern part, perhaps women and children only initially.”
The official body added: “The other side being studied is the evacuation of residents from Rafah to other places within the Gaza Strip to alleviate congestion near the border with Egypt, reducing its concerns,” according to the Anadolu Agency.
Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Galant said, during a press conference in Tel Aviv on Monday evening, February 5, that Rafah is the next target after Khan Yunis.
The Israeli Broadcasting Authority said: “Rafah is a densely populated area, and according to estimates, it is currently inhabited by 1.2 million Gaza residents.” It added: “Egyptians have expressed to Israel their concern that large numbers of Gaza residents will infiltrate their territory as a result of the potential military operation in Rafah,” according to the broadcasting authority.
Since the beginning of the devastating Israeli war on the Gaza Strip on October 7th last year, hundreds of thousands of Palestinians have fled from the north and centre of the Gaza Strip and Khan Yunis to Rafah, where tents are crowded.
Many human rights, humanitarian, and international organizations have warned, in recent days, that the potential military operation in Rafah will result in many casualties.
“Pre-operation talks potential in Rafah”
On the other hand, the Israeli Broadcasting Authority pointed out that Israel “has conducted in recent days talks with Egypt about the issue of the day after the war.” It said: “The talks on the Israeli side were conducted by the head of the General Security Service, Shin Bet, Ronen Bar, and the Coordinator of Israeli Army Activities in the Palestinian Territories, Ghassan Alian.”
The Israeli Broadcasting Authority added: “Israel sees that Egypt has a very important role on the day after the war, because it is the only land gateway to and from the Gaza Strip, besides being an influential and important factor in the Arab world.”
Meanwhile, the Israeli newspaper “Israel Hayom” revealed on Monday that Egypt had sent harsh messages to Tel Aviv, expressing its fears of displacing Palestinians to Sinai during the potential military operation in Rafah, indicating that it threatened to suspend or cancel the peace treaty between the two sides.
The Israeli newspaper said that the Egyptian messages were conveyed during a series of communications between senior Egyptian officials and their Israeli counterparts, and their content was conveyed to political and security leaders in Tel Aviv, stressing that Egypt made it clear to Israel that it strongly opposes expanding the fighting to Rafah and controlling the Philadelphi Route.
According to sources cited by the newspaper, the harsh messages sent by Egypt are a mixture of anger and concern. This comes after various statements and position papers discussing the displacement of Palestinians to Sinai as a possible solution to the problems of the sector, the most prominent of which were by Intelligence Minister Gila Gamliel and similar statements by ministers and members of the Knesset, headed by Finance Minister Betsalel Smotrich, who reiterated them on several occasions.
Egypt’s concern about the potential military operation in Rafah focuses on two scenarios: the first is that the Palestinians will try to leave Gaza due to the deteriorating humanitarian situation in the sector, and the second is that the Palestinians will try to flee for fear of being harmed in the war. This is why Egypt has made it clear to Israel that it strongly opposes expanding the fighting to Rafah and controlling the Philadelphi Route.
