Construction of a wall is underway in the desert of Egypt near the Gaza Strip, but it’s a topic that’s not widely discussed.
Recent satellite imagery, photos, and video analyzed by The New York Times reveal a large area of land being bulldozed and a wall being constructed in the buffer zone between Egypt and Rafah, the southern Gaza city that is home to over a million displaced Palestinians and is on the brink of an Israeli invasion.
Construction of a wall along the Egyptian border with Rafah is seen in this satellite imagery.Credit…Maxar Technologies
The satellite imagery clearly shows newly graded land south of the Rafah border crossing. An analysis of the satellite images indicated that the work began around Feb. 5.
The Egyptian government has remained tight-lipped about the new construction, despite concerns about the influx of displaced Gazans. A government spokesman has only referred to recent statements highlighting the fortification of the border.
The purpose of the structure remains unclear, but if it’s intended to hold Gazans who cross the border, it would mark a significant shift in Egypt’s stance.
According to a contractor and an engineer interviewed by The Times, they have been tasked by the Egyptian Army to build a five-meter-high concrete wall to close off a five-square-kilometer plot of land at the site. They began work on Feb. 5 and started on the wall two days ago.
The contractor and the engineer spoke on the condition of anonymity, citing fears of reprisals. The Egyptian authorities heavily restrict information coming from the border area.
Since October, Egypt has rejected suggestions to take in some of the Gazans who have fled to areas near the border in Rafah following Israeli military retaliation in Gaza. Egyptian officials fear a security risk, while many Palestinians suspect that Israel might not allow people who leave Gaza to return.
In recent weeks, displaced Gazans have crowded into Rafah, struggling to survive in tents and makeshift shelters with limited access to food and other essential supplies, according to aid workers. One Gazan official estimated that there were over 100,000 displaced Palestinians in encampments pressed against the border.
At a meeting convened by Egypt, Martin Griffiths, the United Nation’s top aid chief, expressed concern about the possibility of spillover and the situation being a “sort of Egyptian nightmare.”
Like Israel, Egypt has sealed its borders with Gaza and has been adding fortifications to its border area in recent months.
A day after the Oct. 7 Hamas-led attack on Israel, the governorate of North Sinai — where the work…
2024-02-16 06:31:43
Article from www.nytimes.com