Egypt is building a wall and levelling land near its border with the Gaza Strip in preparation for a planned Israeli offensive targeting the border city of Rafah, according to satellite images analysed by The Associated Press. Egypt has not publicly acknowledged the construction, but it has repeatedly warned Israel not to forcibly expel the more than 1 million displaced Palestinians in Rafah into its territory. However, the preparations on the Egyptian side of the border suggest that Cairo is readying for a potential mass ejection, which could threaten a 1979 peace deal with Israel. The Egyptian government did not respond to requests for comment.
The satellite images taken by Maxar Technologies show ongoing construction on the wall, which is being built along the Sheikh Zuweid-Rafah Road, approximately 3.5km west of the border with Gaza. The images reveal cranes, trucks, and what appear to be precast concrete barriers being set up along the road. These images align with a video released by the Sinai Foundation for Human Rights, which shows a crane lifting concrete walls into place along the road. The foundation states that the construction is intended to create a high-security gated and isolated area near the borders with the Gaza Strip, in preparation for the reception of Palestinian refugees in the case of a mass exodus.
Satellite imagery from Planet Labs PBC also shows nearby construction crews levelling and clearing ground for an unknown purpose. Previously, homes and farmland in the area had been razed during Egypt’s war on an affiliate of the Islamic State group. Israel’s main ally, the United States, opposes the idea of pushing Palestinians out of Gaza, but some hard-line officials within Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government have suggested it during the ongoing conflict with Hamas. Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant has stated that there are no plans to push Palestinians into Egypt, emphasizing the importance of the peace agreement with Egypt for stability in the region.
The potential displacement of Palestinians from the Gaza Strip has raised concerns among Palestinians and their Arab neighbours ever since Israel launched its assault in response to an attack by Hamas. Israel denies any plans to deport Palestinians from Gaza and claims that it will coordinate with Egypt and the United States regarding the potential accommodation of refugees in Rafah. However, Western officials and aid agencies warn that such forced displacement into Egypt would be a catastrophe. The situation remains tense as Israel prepares for its offensive on Rafah.
