Tanks and numerous armored vehicles are being deployed in the Sinai desert in these hours, following US President Donald Trump’s declarations on the need for Egypt to welcome the Palestinians who will be displaced from Gaza.
The images sent by reporter Hazem Helme Abu Anza unequivocally show the stance taken by the Egyptian government, which does not intend to bow its head to the US diktat.
Al-Arabiya cited sources saying that the Rafah crossing into Gaza will be opened seven days after the implementation of the ceasefire and that the European Union will be in charge of technical supervision of the management of the land crossing. The crossing will be monitored by three representatives of the Palestinian Authority and seven representatives of the Union European Union, and will be open for the evacuation of the sick and injured, with a daily capacity of 50 patients. Some patients have already crossed the border to receive initial treatment in Egypt.
Last week the new president of the United States Donald Trump, from Air Force One, said: “I would like Egypt to take people and I would like Jordan to take people. We are talking about a million and a half people, and we will clean everything up”. Therefore a gigantic mass deportation, at least 1.5 million Gazans would have to leave their homes and lands, or what is left of them, to become refugees in Egypt and Jordan. The idea was immediately rejected by both the Egyptian government and Jordan. Thousands of Egyptians immediately poured in in front of the Rafah crossing to protest against the proposal, which was deemed unacceptable.
While Israel continues its bombing on Jenin and the West Bank, hitting residential buildings and hospitals, repeating a tragic script already seen in Gaza, Egypt stands ready to defend its territory.
