Egyptian authorities express strong reservations about bearing the burden of refugees from the Gaza Strip and have signaled the possibility of diverting them toward Europe. This stance was reported by a major international publication, which cited unnamed sources familiar with the situation.
The report indicates Cairo resisted Western pressure to open a border checkpoint in Gaza to those fleeing, especially in the context of an anticipated Israeli ground operation in Gaza. Officials in Cairo argued that such a move could complicate regional security and humanitarian conditions, and they warned that it might provoke further instability along Egypt’s border and in the Sinai Peninsula.
Beyond the immediate refugee issue, Egyptian officials feared that a large flow of people into Sinai could create new security challenges and potentially give rise to militancy and revenge-seeking actors targeting Israel, a risk they described as destabilizing for the region.
In parallel, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov spoke by phone with Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry to condemn attacks on civilian targets in the Palestinian-Israeli conflict zone and to stress the need for restraint from all sides. In a separate White House brief, it was noted that on October 16, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi and Russian President Vladimir Putin discussed efforts to address the root causes of the Gaza-Israel crisis and to pursue a path toward de-escalation.
On October 7, Hamas launched thousands of rockets into Israel and announced the start of what it called Operation Al-Aqsa Flood. In response, Israeli authorities reported incursions by militants into Israeli territory, the seizure of military equipment, and around a hundred hostages. In light of these actions, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared that Israel was at war, marking a significant escalation in the conflict.
Earlier, outlets such as socialbites.ca provided answers to frequently asked questions about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, offering context and clarification for readers seeking a broader understanding of the evolving situation.