Egypt cancels meetings with Israeli officials amid Rafah invasion
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An Israeli website confirms that Egyptian military officials canceled meetings with Israeli military officials, pointing out the aggravation of the crisis between the two sides against the backdrop of Egypt’s objection to the Israeli invasion of Rafah.
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An Israeli tank overlooks the Gaza Strip, as seen from southern "Israel", on May 6, 2024. (AP)
An Israeli source reported that Egyptian military officials canceled all previously arranged meetings with their Israeli counterparts, according to the Israeli i24NEWS.
The website highlighted that the issue stems from Egypt's apprehensions regarding Israeli military activities along the border separating Egypt and the Gaza Strip. Furthermore, Cairo views the Israeli military's authority over the Palestinian section of the Rafah crossing as a potential violation of the longstanding treaty between the two nations, as outlined in the Camp David Accords.
The report detailed that the sudden cancellation indicates an aggravation of the crisis between the two parties, against the backdrop of Egypt's groundbreaking statement when it declared on Sunday its support for the lawsuit filed by South Africa against “Israel” in the International Court of Justice.
The decision sparked strong reactions in the occupation entity, with one source describing it to i24NEWS as “a betrayal, given previous cooperation, especially in the Sinai Peninsula.”
Before the Israeli military operation in Rafah Governorate, south of the Gaza Strip, Egypt warned of the dangers of any similar operation.
Read next: Egypt refuses 'Israel' coordination on entry of aid into Gaza
In a statement released by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Cairo characterized any military action in Rafah as an "escalatory act," emphasizing the significant humanitarian dangers it poses to over a million Palestinians residing in the area.
Egypt urged "Israel" to refrain from escalation "at this highly sensitive juncture in the ceasefire negotiations" and to prevent the loss of Palestinian civilian lives, who are facing an unprecedented humanitarian crisis since the onset of the war.
A few days ago, Israeli newspaper Maariv confirmed that Egyptian officials informed the Director of American Intelligence, William Burns, that the United States must exert serious pressure on "Israel" to stop its operation in the city of Rafah and return to serious negotiations.
In this context, Hamdeen Sabahi, the Secretary-General of the Arab National Congress, remarked that the incursion into the Rafah crossing constitutes a breach of the Camp David Accords, and advocated for its cancellation as a response.
