Egypt is rapidly constructing a walled buffer zone on the border of eastern Sinai in the event of an exodus of Palestinians from the Gaza Strip as a result of Israel’s war against Hamas, the Sinai Foundation for Human Rights, a nongovernmental organization based in London, said this week.
The Egyptian armed forces commissioned the project to build a 12- to 15-square-mile, high-security gated and isolated compound surrounded by 7-foot-tall walls near their border with the Palestinian enclave, the Sinai Foundation said.
“The erection of a security perimeter around a specified and open stretch of land are serious signals that Egypt could be preparing to accept and allow the displacement of the people of Gaza into Sinai, in coordination with Israel and the United States,” said Mohannad Sabry, a researcher specializing in Sinai and Egyptian security, according to the Sinai Foundation.
The Times of Israel said the walled enclosure near the Gaza Strip could house more than 100,000 refugees, but Egyptian officials would try to limit the number to 50,000 to 60,000 people if large numbers of refugees flee because of the fighting.
“The area is expected to be leveled and ready in no more than 10 days,” the Sinai Foundation said.
Egypt has rejected any suggestions that it should take in Palestinians who have fled south to avoid the fighting in Gaza that has resulted in thousands of deaths. According to reports, officials in Cairo fear that a sudden influx of refugees could pose a security risk to Egypt.
Thousands of Gaza residents have crammed into Rafah, the site of the sole border crossing point with Egypt, since Israel launched its war against Hamas following the Oct. 7 terrorist rampage that killed at least 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and resulted in hundreds of others being taken hostage.
• Mike Glenn can be reached at mglenn@washingtontimes.com.
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