The government media office in Gaza has warned of a potential global disaster and massacre that could leave tens of thousands dead and injured if the Israeli army invades Rafah Governorate, according to "Russia Today." The media office stated: "Israeli occupation media have reported the intentions and threats of the occupation army to attack and invade Rafah Governorate (southern Gaza Strip), which is home to more than 1,400,000 Palestinian citizens, including 1,300,000 displaced from other provinces, indicating the possibility of a catastrophe and global massacre that could result in tens of thousands of martyrs and wounded."
It added: "We hold the U.S. administration, the international community, and the Israeli occupation fully responsible for the catastrophe and global massacre that the occupation threatens to commit, which could occur at any moment amid its perpetration of thousands of massacres in the Gaza Strip provinces throughout this genocide war."
The statement continued: "We demand the United Nations Security Council to convene immediately and urgently to take a decision ensuring the Israeli occupation is obligated to stop the genocide against civilians, children, and women in the Gaza Strip, as well as to halt the deliberate killings of tens of thousands of Palestinians in the sector and the continuous threats against Rafah Governorate and others."
On another note, two Egyptian security sources announced that "Cairo has sent approximately 40 tanks and armored personnel carriers to northeastern Sinai in the past two weeks as part of a series of measures to enhance security along its border with the Gaza Strip." The forces are deployed ahead of Israel expanding its military operations to include the city of Rafah in southern Gaza, which has seen most of the population of the strip displaced in search of safe refuge, exacerbating Egypt's fears of the potential for Palestinians to be forced to exit the strip collectively.
Israeli warplanes bombed Rafah on Friday, and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered the army to prepare for the evacuation of displaced persons. Since the outbreak of war between Israel and Hamas on October 7, Egypt has constructed a concrete border wall with foundations extending 6 meters underground topped with barbed wire.
The two security sources indicated that "Egypt has also established sand barriers and enhanced surveillance at the border posts," according to "Reuters." The Egyptian General Authority for Information mentioned last month details about some of the measures taken by Egypt along its borders in response to Israeli hints that Hamas obtained smuggled weapons from Egypt. The authority added that "three rows of barriers make it impossible to smuggle anything above or below ground."
