Egypt has reinforced its fortifications along its border with Gaza and deployed more troops and vehicles to northern Sinai as a "precautionary measure" ahead of the expected Israeli ground operation in Rafah, Gaza, according to two security officials speaking to CNN. Security checkpoints leading to the Rafah border crossing on the Egyptian side have been reinforced with additional soldiers, and areas surrounding the main road have been prepared for the deployment of tanks and military vehicles. Egyptian military helicopters have also been seen flying on the Egyptian side over the past three days, according to an eyewitness in Egypt, along with videos shared on social media recorded from the Gaza side of the border.
Egypt warned, in a statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Sunday, of "grave consequences" following statements from government officials regarding preparations for a military operation in southern Gaza’s Rafah. Egypt emphasized the "necessity of uniting all international and regional efforts to prevent targeting the Palestinian city of Rafah, which has become home to nearly 1.4 million Palestinians." It stated that targeting the city "would effectively contribute to the implementation of policies aimed at the displacement of the Palestinian people and the liquidation of their cause."
