IndiaTheNews Exclusive: Why is the Israeli army’s rapid advance in Rafah increasing Egypt’s tension?

This week in IndiaTheNews News Network’s special program Shaurya Path, we wanted to know from Brigadier Shri DS Tripathi (Retd) that in which direction is the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas moving now? We also wanted to know whether there are any chances of the ceasefire proposal being accepted? In response, he said that there was no sign of a ceasefire as the Israeli army was continuously advancing. He said that the situation at the moment is that due to Israeli bombardment and ground attacks, about 1.5 million Palestinian civilians are currently trapped in the southern Gaza city of Rafah.

Brigadier Shri DS Tripathi Ji (Retd) said Israel targeted families and residential complexes in the latest attack, killing at least 103 people in Gaza. With this the death toll in Gaza has reached 29,600. He said that since the conflict started on October 7 last year, about 70,000 people have been injured and there is no correct assessment of the loss of property because heaps of debris are visible all around. . He said Israel had targeted families in 10 attacks, including the home of popular Palestinian comedian Mahmoud Zatar, according to Gaza’s health ministry. It is being told that at least 160 people have been injured in these attacks, many of which were serious. He said Israeli military helicopters were reported to have fired toward homes in the Deir al-Balah area of ​​central Gaza.

Brigadier Shri DS Tripathi (Retd) said that the continuous attacks in Gaza Strip have had a very bad impact on the supply of food and water. The UN humanitarian agency said in its statement that without adequate food and water supplies, as well as health and nutrition services, the risk of famine in Gaza increases. He said women and children face the worst conditions and the region is heading towards a major humanitarian crisis.

Brigadier Shri DS Tripathi (retired) said that apart from this, the way Israel is establishing settlements in the West Bank is wrong. He said that America has also said that the new Israeli settlements in the West Bank are not in accordance with international laws. He said that US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has clearly said that we feel that this will not strengthen Israel’s security but will weaken it. He said that Blinken’s statement came when Israel’s far-right Finance Minister Belalel Smotrich had indicated to build more than three thousand houses in the settlements. He said that as far as the future of this war is concerned, one thing is clear that Israel should not occupy Gaza again. The size of Gaza should not be reduced and whatever plan comes forward should be in accordance with the laid down principles.

Brigadier Shri DS Tripathi (Retd) said that currently 15 lakh Palestinian citizens are stranded in Rafah city of southern Gaza. The city had an original population of 250,000 but now houses more than half of Gaza’s entire population. He said that now there is an increased fear that due to Israel’s possible ground attack on Rafah, civilians may cross the border and enter Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula. He said that Rafah, originally considered a safe area, is now also being targeted by Israeli airstrikes. People fleeing violence have no safe place to go. He said that apart from Israel, Egypt is the only country which shares its border with Gaza. However, Egypt has refused to accept Palestinian refugees displaced by Israel.

Brigadier Shri DS Tripathi (Retd) said that another major concern for Egypt is its security. If Palestinians were resettled in the Sinai, it could create a new base for Egypt to launch a resistance campaign in this area. This could drag Egypt into military conflict with Israel. Additionally, he said, Egypt’s president has only managed to crack down on Islamist rebels in North Sinai in recent years and is likely concerned that an influx of refugees could be destabilizing. The Egyptian President also believes that Hamas may oppose his rule. He said that after ousting President Mohammed Morsi in a military coup in 2013, the Sisi regime had cracked down on the Muslim Brotherhood and suppressed all forms of dissent. He said we should also note that between 2014 and 2016, the Egyptian military bombed and flooded the tunnels connecting Gaza to Egypt, as well as accusing Hamas of colluding with the Muslim Brotherhood against the government. Was accused of.