While Israel and Hamas fight it out, Egypt has closed its border crossing with Gaza

In response to the intensifying Israel offensive, after Hamas launched a surprise attack on Israel, Egypt has taken steps to secure its borders with the Gaza Strip and Israel, including the closure of key border crossings of Rafah and Taba.

The move is likely to prevent the potential influx of Gaza refugees into Egypt, which had been the custodian of the strip of land for two decades in the past. Egypt was also the first Arab state to sign a peace treaty with Israel in 1979, and today their relationship can be termed, 'cold peace'.

Following the escalation, Egypt also intensified its diplomatic efforts to mediate a truce and voiced its concerns about the absence of a solution to the Palestinian issue. The North African Arab nation has been proposing a two-state solution and the establishment of an independent Palestinian state.

Israel, in the past, has been at the receiving end of Egypt's military attacks regarding its occupation of Palestine.

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Border closures

• Egyptian security officials, on Tuesday (October 10) announced the closure of border crossings along its Northern border that serves as a gateway, including the Rafah and Taba crossings.
• Gaza's only way out to its south opens into Egypt through the Rafah Crossing.
• The closure was prompted by "explosions" on the Gaza side of the Rafah crossing on Monday (October 9), which resulted in damage to the facility's infrastructure.

• The closure, now, has isolated the Gaza Strip, leaving it cut off from both the Israeli and Egyptian sides.
• Apart from that, Israel also announced a blockade of Gaza on Monday (October 9).

This leaves the people of Gaza nowhere to escape, with Israel on two sides, the Mediterranean on one, and Egypt on the remaining south-west side.

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Why

• Egypt has expressed concerns about attempts to force Palestinians in Gaza into Sinai in a "mass movement" to escape the ongoing conflict.
• Egyptian authorities have warned against such actions, sighting Egyptian sovereignty.
• According to Egypt, the occupation power (Israel) is responsible for finding humanitarian corridors to help the people of Gaza.

Tensions since Saturday

• The recent escalation in the Gaza-Israel conflict began when militants from Gaza launched an offensive into Israeli-held territory, breaching the separation wall that has isolated Gaza from the rest of the world for over a decade.
• In response, Israel has launched airstrikes and is mobilising ground forces, further worsening the situation.

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Preparations for a humanitarian crisis

• According to reports, Egypt has however made preparations to provide aid to the Gaza Strip. Hospitals, schools, and other essential services in North Sinai are gearing up for a potential fallout.
• Egypt has also been reportedly working on a crisis management plan, designating areas and buildings in Sheikh Zuwayed and Rafah, the Egyptian cities closest to Gaza, as potential humanitarian shelters for refugees.

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