Egypt warns of dire consequences of any Israeli ground offensive in Rafah

CAIRO – 11 February 2024: Egypt re-affirmed its complete rejection of the statements issued by Israeli high-level officials regarding the Israeli ground offensive in the city of Rafah in southern Gaza Strip.

In a statement released by the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Sunday, Egypt warned of the dire consequences of any Israeli ground offensive in the city of Rafah, especially in light of the risks it poses of exacerbating the humanitarian catastrophe in the Gaza Strip.

Egypt’s statement came after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated in a television interview on Sunday that Israel will make the ground military operation in Rafah, despite Egypt’s warnings.  

Egypt called for uniting all international and regional efforts to prevent targeting the Palestinian city of Rafah, where about 1.4 million internally displaced Palestinians have taken refuge as it is the last safe area in the Strip.

“Targeting the city of Rafah and Israel’s continued policy of obstructing the access of humanitarian aid constitute an actual implementation of the policy of displacing the Palestinian people and liquidating their cause,” the statement added.

Egypt continued that Israel’s plan to launch ground offensive in Rafah is a clear violation of the provisions of international law, the international humanitarian law, and relevant UN Security Council UNGA resolutions.

Also, Cairo affirmed that it will continue its contacts with various parties to reach an immediate ceasefire, enforce the truce, and exchange prisoners and detainees.

Egypt called on influential international powers to intensify pressure on Israel to respond to these [international] efforts, and to avoid taking measures that further complicate the situation and cause harm to the interests of everyone without exception.