Today, new satellite images have revealed significant developments in Egypt's border region with Gaza. The images showcase the construction of a massive buffer zone and a border wall by Egyptian authorities. The buffer zone spans approximately 16.5 square kilometers, equivalent to over 6 square miles, and has been cleared through extensive bulldozing efforts carried out over the past few weeks. The initiation of the bulldozing process dates back to February 6th, underscoring the scale and rapid progress of the project.
The primary motivation behind these border modifications is the concern among Egyptian officials regarding potential scenarios involving Israeli military actions in the vicinity of Rafa, where around 1.5 million Palestinians currently reside. There are apprehensions that any Israeli incursion into Rafa could trigger a mass exodus of Palestinians towards Egypt. While Israel has clarified that its objective does not involve directing Palestinians into Egypt, they have articulated plans to relocate civilians to northern Gaza instead.
The evolving situation raises significant questions about the ongoing military offensive and its broader implications. The Israeli prime minister has outlined post-war strategies for Gaza, envisioning Israel's control over the Egypt-Gaza border area for enhanced security measures. This strategic control over the border region is deemed crucial in the context of potential Israeli operations in Rafah.
