Tensions escalate as Egypt rejects Israeli troop presence in Rafah, Philadelphi Corridor

WORLD, Aug. 21(YPA) – Relations between Egypt and Israel have deteriorated significantly due to disagreements over the deployment of Israeli forces in Rafah and the Philadelphi Corridor on the Egypt-Gaza border, according to a report by the Emirati newspaper “The National”.

During negotiations in Cairo over the past 48 hours, Egyptian officials informed their Israeli counterparts that Egypt would never agree to the presence of Israeli forces at either of the specified locations, regardless of their number, the paper reported citing sources familiar with the matter as saying that

One of the  sources clarified that Israeli officials were insistent on maintaining their troops in Rafah and the Philadelphi Corridor, and had pledged to provide satellite imagery to prove that only a limited number of their forces were stationed there.

The Egyptians rejected this proposal and suggested the deployment of American or UN forces at the two sites, a proposal that was turned down by the Israeli side.

They have accused Israel of violating bilateral agreements that prohibit the deployment of Israeli troops in these areas.

It is noted that Israel took control of the Palestinian side of the Rafah crossing in May, and subsequently its forces entered the Philadelphi Corridor on the border between Gaza and Egypt during the Israeli military operation against Hamas and other factions in Gaza, in response to Hamas’s attack on Israel on October 7.

@E.Y.M