Israeli media has reported that Egypt is fully preparing for an anticipated Israeli military operation in the Palestinian city of Rafah, located on its border with Gaza. Israeli channel I24News stated that Egyptian officials have expressed increasing concerns about the forthcoming military operation in Rafah, the southernmost city in the Gaza Strip. Recent local media reports in Egypt indicate that Cairo is searching for diplomatic ways to avoid the operation, while also preparing to establish red lines to protect its citizens.
According to Egyptian military experts, Egypt is actively seeking diplomatic means to prevent such an operation while also preparing to set red lines to protect its citizens if it occurs. Former Egyptian Foreign Minister and head of the Egyptian Council for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Mohamed Al-Arabi, noted that Israel is seriously considering military action in Rafah and suggested that this could manifest in targeted operations against Hamas rather than a full-scale invasion.
He emphasized the diplomatic efforts being made by Egypt, ranging from bilateral consultations with Israel to rallying regional and international support against military action. Al-Arabi stressed that Egypt's goal is to restrain Israel through diplomatic efforts.
Meanwhile, Tarek Radwan, head of the Human Rights Committee in the Egyptian Parliament, expressed his concerns about the impact of the operation on regional stability, warning that any Israeli military action in Rafah could escalate tensions and provoke widespread international condemnation. Radwan cautioned that "the Israeli announcement regarding the operation in Rafah has objectives, but Egyptian activities will focus on mobilizing regional and international efforts to exert pressure on the Israeli side."
I24NEWS revealed that the Israeli army provided its American counterpart with operational guidelines to activate the humanitarian corridor in Gaza before invading the Palestinian city of Rafah, which borders Egypt. The channel clarified that the Israeli army is aware that the humanitarian corridor is a crucial U.S. condition for carrying out a ground operation in Rafah. According to I24NEWS, Colonel Barak Hiram, commander of Brigade 99, presented these orders to the commander of the U.S. Central Command, "CENTCOM," in preparation for expanding the Israeli ground operation in the southern sector.
The Hebrew channel's correspondent reported that in Israel, officials recognize that without increasing humanitarian assistance and activating the corridor, the Americans would oppose the operation in the southern sector. Informed sources indicated that the Rafah issue is not "if it will be implemented," but "when it will be implemented," with expectations for the humanitarian corridor to be opened by the end of the month.
