Conflict in the Middle East
Israel’s army: exchange of fire on the border with Egypt
A border fence between Egypt and Israel (archive photo)
© EPA / MOSHE MILNER / GPO HANDOUT / DPA
Since Israel’s advance in Rafah, the fighting has come dangerously close to the Egyptian border. According to Israeli reports, there has now been a direct confrontation between Israeli and Egyptian soldiers.
According to the Israeli army, there was an exchange of fire on the border with Egypt on Monday. The incident is being investigated and talks are being held with the neighboring country, the Israeli military said. According to Israeli media, an Egyptian soldier was also killed in the incident at the Rafah border crossing in the Gaza Strip. An official confirmation from Egypt was pending. The background was initially unclear. It would be the first dead soldier on the Egyptian side since the start of the Gaza war in early October.
Tense situation on the Israeli-Egyptian border
The situation on the border with Egypt has recently become increasingly tense. Israeli troops advanced further there three weeks ago and took control of the Rafah border crossing on the Palestinian side as well as a border strip between Egypt and Gaza.
At the beginning of the Gaza war on October 7, Israel said it accidentally fired on an Egyptian military post near the Kerem Shalom border crossing. According to the Egyptian army, several Egyptian border guards were slightly injured. The Israeli military apologized for the incident. Before the war began, there were several deadly attacks by militant groups on the border between the two countries.
Egypt and Israel signed a peace treaty in 1979 after several wars. However, the relationship between the two countries has been put to a severe test since the Gaza war.
Note: This article has been updated.