As Israeli units advanced in Rafah, close to the Egyptian border, a shootout occurred between the troops of both countries, resulting in the death of an Egyptian soldier. The Egyptian military confirmed that the deceased was a border guard, marking the first publicly known Egyptian casualty since the onset of the Gaza conflict.
The Israeli army confirmed the exchange of fire at the Egypt border and stated that the incident is under investigation, with ongoing discussions with Egypt. No further details were provided.
Unclear Circumstances Surrounding the Shooting
According to the Israeli news site ynet, which cited military sources, Egyptian soldiers allegedly initiated the gunfire. However, these claims could not be independently verified. The report also mentioned that additional soldiers from Egypt were injured in the ensuing shootout. Conversely, an Egyptian government official told Al-Arabi that Israeli troops fired first.
Tense Relations Between Israel and Egypt
The situation at the border has become increasingly tense following the expansion of Israeli military operations in Rafah, in the southern Gaza Strip. Three weeks ago, Israeli troops advanced and took control of the Rafah crossing on the Palestinian side and a border strip between Egypt and Gaza.
Earlier in the conflict, Israel accidentally shelled an Egyptian military post near the Kerem Shalom crossing, according to its own reports. Prior to the war, there were several deadly attacks by militant groups along the border.
Since the Gaza war began, triggered by the militant-Islamist Hamas terror attack, the already fragile peace between Israel and Egypt has been severely tested, leading to mutual accusations and heightened tensions.
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