An Egyptian security forces member was killed in a shooting incident near the Rafah border crossing with the Gaza Strip, sparking tensions between Egypt and Israel. The Israeli military reported the incident on Monday, but details on what exactly happened remain scarce.
The shooting comes amidst escalating tensions between the two nations since early May, when Israel launched a military campaign in the city of Rafah to defeat Hamas, the armed group responsible for a deadly attack on Israel. Israeli troops took control of the Gaza side of the Rafah border crossing earlier this month.
Israel’s military stated, “Several hours ago, a shooting incident took place on the Egyptian border. The incident is under review. There is a dialogue with the Egyptian side.” Meanwhile, the Egyptian army’s spokesman confirmed the death of a security forces member near the crossing.
The seizure of the Rafah crossing by Israel has halted the flow of aid into the enclave, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu emphasizing the operation’s importance in defeating Hamas and destroying its military infrastructure, including tunnels.
The population of Rafah had swelled to over one million as displaced Gazans sought refuge in the area, but most have since fled to areas farther from the Egyptian border. Israeli leaders have stressed the need to control the crossing and a buffer zone along Gaza’s southern border to prevent Hamas from building tunnels into Egypt.
As the investigation into the shooting incident continues, tensions remain high between Egypt and Israel, with both countries on edge over the recent developments near the Rafah border crossing.
