The Egyptian authorities carried out new restoration work on the fence separating Egypt and the Gaza Strip, east of Rafah (Al Jazeera)

Cairo -

Western media reported - unnamed - Egyptian officials threatening to suspend the implementation of the "Camp David" peace agreement, if the Israeli occupation army carries out a military operation in the Palestinian city of Rafah, adjacent to the Egyptian border. This is the first time that the threat has been made to suspend the agreement signed a year ago. 1978.

This comes as the occupation authorities approved a military plan to storm the city, with the aim of eliminating 4 battalions affiliated with the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) based in Rafah, according to statements by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Previous official Egyptian positions emphasized that Israel bears responsibility for the conditions and fates of the Palestinians in Gaza, and also expressed its concern about the influx of hundreds of thousands of civilians fleeing the attacks on Rafah, which threatens the security situation in Egypt.

Egyptian position

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated in a statement posted on its Facebook page that it “rejects the statements issued by high-level officials in the Israeli government regarding the Israeli forces’ intention to launch a military operation in the city of Rafah, south of the Gaza Strip, warning of the dire consequences of such action.”

While the statement did not mention the fate of the agreement, Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry said in press statements, “There is a peace agreement between his country and Israel that has been in effect for 40 years, and it will remain in place,” which observers of the statements saw as an attempt to hold Israel responsible for preserving the agreement in a joint way. .

Observers believe that Cairo's political options are limited in the face of the Israeli insistence on storming Rafah. The peace agreement signed between the two parties prohibits one party from moving in border areas without the approval of the other party. In return, it gives Israel the same right when Egypt moves its forces in the border areas in Sinai.

Years ago, Israel had allowed the movement of the Egyptian army in the eastern Sinai border areas, where the agreement prohibits the army from operating, when Egypt needed to pursue Sinai Province militants, which could be used as a justification for Israel’s pursuit of the Palestinian resistance in Rafah.

In this context, questions arise about Egypt's ability to prevent the occupation from carrying out a military operation in Rafah, and about the options that Cairo has to impose this, as observers realize that the main goal of the anticipated Rafah operation is "displacing the Palestinians to Sinai."

Convention weapon

Former Egyptian Assistant Foreign Minister and former Ambassador Hani Khallaf believes that “Egypt has many cards to prevent Israel from carrying out a military operation in Rafah, the most important of which are:

  • The possibility of withdrawing the Egyptian ambassador from Tel Aviv, and announcing that Egypt will stop mediation efforts to conclude a prisoner exchange deal between Israel and the Palestinian resistance.

  • Freezing a number of agreements regarding economic cooperation.

  • Sending a message to the international community that Israel has violated the peace agreement with Egypt, and that Cairo is free from it.

Khalaf stressed the need for Egypt to launch an international and regional coalition against Israel’s military operation in Rafah, taking advantage of the international rejection of this dangerous operation.

The spokesman stressed to Al Jazeera Net that “the Palestinians displaced from northern to southern Gaza have no choice but to enter Egyptian territory, and this is what Egypt must confront forcefully and with announced steps, and take strong positions reflected in official statements and movements on the ground, to prevent the scenario of forced displacement of Palestinians to Sinai.” ".

The stream of statements continues from every Western and Arab official warning “as a release” from the humanitarian catastrophe and the dire consequences that will result from Israel launching a military operation in Rafah.

While on the ground nothing changes: Israel continues to plan the attack; The Arab countries continue to shout, “Help us!” And the Security Council...

- Mohamed ElBaradei (@ElBaradei) February 11, 2024

Several papers

The academic and expert on the Arab-Israeli conflict, Muhammad Seif al-Dawla, identified steps that Egypt must take to prevent the occupation from carrying out a ground operation in Rafah, most notably freezing Article 4 of the peace agreement, and sending large numbers of forces, equipment, and weapons near the border in Sinai, to confront... The Israeli plan for forced displacement, which is the most important goal of the ground operation in Rafah.

He also pointed out the possibility of stopping participation in the siege of Gaza, canceling the Philadelphia Agreement, which gives Israel the right to veto everything related to the Rafah crossing, and opening the crossing to bring in humanitarian aid against its will and without waiting for its permission, in addition to the necessity of stopping security coordination with Israel, while closing embassies and withdrawing The ambassadors were expelled.

Saif al-Dawla added, “It is required to expedite the return of the people of Rafah and Sheikh Zuweid, who were deported from their cities in recent years in order to establish a buffer border zone, as they are a barrier against any expected Israeli violations, while reopening the tunnels and digging more of them to supply the Palestinians with their basic life needs.” In the face of the war of starvation and thirst on both the economic and human levels.”

The expert confirmed to Al Jazeera Net that “Egypt can also threaten to stop the gas import deal from Israel, freeze its membership in the Eastern Mediterranean Gas Forum, and freeze the QIZ agreement that requires Egyptian manufacturers to choose an Israeli partner if they want to export their products to the United States, in addition to reviewing all contracts with Major American and European companies, with the threat of their cancellation.

Ahmed Fouad Anwar, professor of Israeli studies at the Faculty of Arts at Alexandria University, also expressed his confidence in “Egypt’s ability to prevent Israel from carrying out a military operation in Rafah,” noting that “Egypt has several cards to force the occupation to back down, including its threat to stop implementing the peace agreement.” .

He added that there is an urgent need for Israel to support Egypt in the prisoner exchange deal with Hamas, and that Israel will not be able to cross Egypt’s red lines. He pointed out in his interview with Al Jazeera Net “the keenness of the Arab countries to continue the peace model with Egypt, and not to prejudice the peace agreement.” He also stressed that Egypt's ability to thwart Netanyahu's efforts to displace Palestinians to Sinai, stressing Israel's need to obtain Egypt's approval to carry out the operation, which Cairo will not tolerate.

In turn, the head of the Arab Foundation for Strategic Studies, Brigadier General Samir Ragheb, said in his intervention on one of the satellite channels, that “the Camp David Accords say that any operations or movements of Israeli soldiers in Area D, at a depth of 11 kilometers from the Philadelphia Corridor into the Gaza Strip, must take place.” With the approval of Egypt, and if the Israeli side violates this, it exposes the Camp David Accords to a violation, and opens the gates of hell,” as he put it.

Source: Al Jazeera