Egypt Increases "State of Readiness" in Northern Sinai

An security source reported today, Monday, that "Egypt has raised the level of military readiness in the Northern Sinai region, which borders the Gaza Strip, following Israel's military operation in the city of Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip." A high-ranking Egyptian source previously stated that "the Rafah crossing is operating normally, and the flow of aid into the Gaza Strip continues." The Israeli army has ordered tens of thousands of residents of Rafah, located in southern Gaza, to begin evacuating the city, indicating that the long-threatened ground assault may be imminent. This order complicates last-minute efforts by international mediators to broker a ceasefire in Gaza. Israel described Rafah as the last significant stronghold for Hamas after seven months of war, and its leaders have repeatedly stated that they wish to carry out a ground attack in the city to defeat "Hamas."