Ibrahim al-KhazIn
22 May 2024•Update: 22 May 2024
CAIRO
Egypt on Tuesday rejected Israeli media reports claiming Cairo-Tel Aviv coordination in the military operation in Rafah, saying commitments to international treaties do not prevent it from safeguarding its national security and rights of the Palestinian people.
“There is no truth to what is being circulated by Israeli media about any kind of joint coordination with Israel regarding its military operation in the Palestinian city of Rafah,” Egypt's Al-Qahera news channel reported, quoting a high-level source.
"Egypt warned Israel of the consequences of escalation in the Gaza Strip and rejected any coordination with it regarding the Rafah crossing,” the source stressed, adding: “Israeli media deliberately disseminate false news to divert attention from the internal confusion it is experiencing.”
Israel has killed more than 35,000 Palestinians since Oct. 7, 2023 cross-border offensive by Hamas that claimed 1,200 lives. It began its operation in Rafah earlier this month.
While the conflict has destroyed much of the blockaded enclave, it has also led to internal displacement and severe shortages of food and other essentials including fuel and medicine.
The source noted that Egypt's stance on Israeli actions in Gaza "has been steadfast from the very beginning, placing Egyptian national security and the rights of the Palestinian people at the top of its priorities."
Earlier, Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry affirmed that Cairo is committed to the peace treaty signed with Israel in 1979, but rejected Tel Aviv's attack on the southern Palestinian city.
Cairo has time and again also expressed concern over Israel's plans to transfer Gazans to Egypt, rejecting it as a “red line.”
*Writing by Rania Abu Shamala
