Egypt will not set up camps for Palestinian refugees

2024-02-18 12:19:00, Kosova & Bota CNA

In recent days, some media reported that Egypt is preparing reception camps for more than 100,000 Palestinian refugees, in case of the Israeli offensive in Rafah. On Saturday, the head of the State Intelligence Service, SIS, Diaa Rashvan, rejected these reports. Cairo is against the expulsion of Palestinians and against the voluntary departure of the Gaza Strip, Rashvan said. Even the governor of the Egyptian region of Sinai, Mohamed Shusha, has told the "dpa" agency that the actions in this region are part of an inventory of houses that have been destroyed in the fight against the extremists of the terrorist group, "Islamic State". This has "nothing to do" with the alleged construction of refugee camps for Palestinians.

Egypt will not set up camps for Palestinian refugees

According to earlier media reports, the Egyptian government was preparing to shelter over 100,000 Palestinians in the border region of the Gaza Strip in the event of an Israeli offensive in Rafah. A concrete wall was even being erected in this area, it was said, likely to maintain control over Palestinian refugees. This was reported by the German news agency dpa and the Wall Street Journal, citing Egyptian officials and analysts. The AP news agency had even published satellite images that were supposed to show construction works in the Sinai Peninsula near the Gaza Strip. Footage showing concrete barriers, trucks, etc., matched the video released by the Sinai Foundation for Human Rights in London on February 12.

In the event of an offensive by the Israeli army in Rafah in the south of the Gaza Strip, Egypt could face a mass exodus of Palestinians. Egypt and a number of politicians in the world have warned Israel against an offensive in Rafah, where according to UN data there are about 1.3 million Palestinians. Most came after the start of the war in the Gaza Strip. Following the October 7 Hamas terrorist attacks in Israel, which killed more than 1,200 people and took hundreds hostage, Israel responded with bombings and ground offensives in the Gaza Strip.

Egypt will not set up camps for Palestinian refugees

Biden warns Israel

Israel is currently under massive pressure to suspend plans for a ground offensive in Rafah, southern Israel. US President Joe Biden recently warned Israel clearly, saying he is convinced there must be a "temporary cessation of hostilities" to free the hostages. He expects that "the Israelis in this period will not undertake a massive ground offensive," Biden said at the White House. Biden asks Israel to reduce the risk of civilian casualties in the Gaza Strip. The US, despite pressure on Israel to stop fighting, plans to send more weapons to Israel. According to the "Wall Street Journal", which refers to US officials, the plans of the Biden administration are currently being verified and may change, before being presented to the congress for approval.

The Israeli army is expected to present to the government cabinet in Israel soon a detailed plan for the military mission in Rafah, the "Times of Israel" reported on Saturday, writes the German news agency, dpa. According to UN organizations, some of the Palestinians, due to the fear of attacks in Rafah, have taken the direction to the center of Gaza./ DW