Egypt has reiterated its rejection of an Israeli invasion of Rafah, debunking what American media has been circulating.
-
Chairperson of the Egyptian State Information Service, Diaa Rashwan, addresses the representatives of syndicates, political forces, and NGOs, in Cairo, Egypt, on May 3, 2023 (AFP)
The Chairperson of the Egyptian State Information Service, Diaa Rashwan, categorically denied what was published in a major American newspaper about Egypt discussing plans for the invasion of Rafah with the Israeli side.
Rashwan stressed, “The Egyptian position is consistent and announced several times by the political leadership, and it completely rejects this invasion, which will lead to massacres, massive human losses, and widespread destruction, in addition to what the brotherly Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip suffered during 200 days of bloody Israeli aggression.”
He explained that “Egypt’s repeated warnings have reached – from all channels – the Israeli side, since it proposed the idea of carrying out a military operation in Rafah, due to these expected losses and the extremely negative repercussions that will impact the stability of the entire region.”
Rashwan added that while “Israel” is contemplating the invasion, Egypt, countries across the globe, and international institutions stand against it. He emphasized that the continuous Egyptian efforts since the beginning of the Israeli genocide in Gaza have focused on reaching a ceasefire and a prisoner exchange agreement.
He stressed that Egypt seeks to provide sufficient humanitarian aid to its brothers and sisters in Gaza, across all its regions, especially the north and Gaza City, as well as transfer injured and ill Palestinians from the Strip, where all health services have been destroyed and obstructed, and provide them with the necessary medical treatment.
‘We will not raise a white flag’
The head of Hamas’ Political Bureau, Ismail Haniyeh, warned against a potential invasion by the Israeli occupation forces in Rafah stressing that it could lead to further massacres against Palestinians.
In an exclusive interview for Anadolu, Haniyed stated, “I call on all brotherly countries, our brothers in Egypt, our brothers in Turkey, our brothers in Qatar as mediators, and the European countries to take action to restrain (Israeli) aggression and prevent the operation in Rafah, [and to ensure] the complete withdrawal (of the Israeli army) from the Gaza Strip and the end of the attacks on Gaza,” he emphasized.
To highlight the strength and resistance of the Palestinian people if a Rafah invasion were to happen, Haniyeh said “If the Zionist enemy enters Rafah, the Palestinian people will not raise the white flag. The Resistance fighters in Rafah are ready to defend themselves and resist attacks.”
