DUBAI, United Arab Emirates. Egypt has been observed constructing a wall and clearing land near its border with the Gaza Strip in anticipation of an impending Israeli offensive aimed at the border city of Rafah, according to satellite images analyzed by The Associated Press on Friday.
Despite Egypt not publicly acknowledging the construction, the preparations on the Egyptian side of the border in the Sinai Peninsula indicate potential readiness for scenarios involving displacement of Palestinians into Egyptian territory. This raises concerns over the implications for Egypt’s 1979 peace deal with Israel, a cornerstone of regional security.
Requests for comment from the Egyptian government regarding the construction remained unanswered as of Friday. However, the Egyptian Foreign Ministry issued a statement on February 11 cautioning Israel against potential displacement of Palestinians in Rafah.
Satellite images, captured on Thursday by Maxar Technologies, depict ongoing construction of a wall along the Sheikh Zuweid-Rafah Road, approximately 3.5 kilometers (2 miles) west of the Gaza border. The images reveal the presence of cranes, trucks, and precast concrete barriers being positioned along the road, consistent with features observed in a video released by the London-based Sinai Foundation for Human Rights.
The Sinai Foundation for Human Rights asserts that the construction is aimed at establishing a highly secure area near the Gaza border, potentially to accommodate Palestinian refugees in the event of mass displacement.
In addition to the wall construction, nearby areas show evidence of land leveling and clearing by construction crews, as observed in imagery from Planet Labs PBC. Reports, citing anonymous Egyptian officials, suggest the construction of an “8-square-mile (20-square-kilometer) walled enclosure” capable of housing over 100,000 people.
The region where construction is taking place had previously witnessed demolitions of homes and farmland during Egypt’s conflict with an affiliate of the Islamic State group.
Notably, within Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government, there have been discussions about the possibility of relocating Palestinians from the Gaza Strip, a proposal met with opposition from Israel’s main ally, the United States. The Gaza Strip, along with the occupied West Bank, constitutes lands desired by Palestinians for their prospective state.
Israeli military authorities redirected inquiries regarding Egypt’s construction activities to Netanyahu’s office, which did not provide a response.
A report from Israel’s Intelligence Ministry, drafted shortly after a Hamas attack on October 7, proposed relocating Gaza’s civilian population to tent cities in northern Sinai, followed by the establishment of permanent settlements and a humanitarian corridor. Subsequently, the Israel-Hamas conflict has inflicted extensive damage on Gaza and claimed thousands of lives, primarily civilians.
The evolving situation underscores escalating tensions in the region, prompting concerns over potential humanitarian consequences and implications for regional stability.
Si Venus L Peñaflor ay naging editor-in-chief ng Newsworld, isang lokal na pahayagan ng Laguna. Publisher din siya ng Daystar Gazette at Tutubi News Magazine. Siya ay isa ring pintor at doll face designer ng Ninay Dolls, ang unang Manikang Pilipino. Kasali siya sa DesignCrowd sa rank na #305 sa 640,000 graphic designers sa buong daigdig. Kasama din siya sa unang Local TV Broadcast sa Laguna na Beyond Manila. Aktibong kasapi siya ng San Pablo Jaycees Senate bilang isang JCI Senator.
