Egypt Warns Israel Over Rafah “Tent City” Plan Near Border, Citing National Security Threat

Watan-A well-informed Egyptian source involved in the mediation efforts led by Cairo between Israel and Hamas during the ongoing Doha negotiations revealed that the Egyptian security delegation expressed its reservations and objections to the Israeli army’s redeployment map in the Gaza Strip. The Israeli delegation’s proposal includes maintaining a full military presence in Rafah Governorate.

The source told Al-Araby Al-Jadeed that the Egyptian delegation raised concerns about the Israeli plan, citing Cairo’s fears over the proposed establishment of what is being called a “tent city” in Rafah, adjacent to the Egyptian border. The plan, which aims to push Gaza’s residents toward this zone via aid distribution mechanisms, would effectively create a human time bomb on Egypt’s doorstep, posing a clear threat to Egyptian national security.

Regarding the 1979 Camp David Accords between Egypt and Israel — under which Israeli military presence in the Salah al-Din Corridor (Philadelphi Route) along the Egypt-Gaza border violates the agreement’s security annexes — the source noted that Cairo has previously issued both public and formal warnings. Egypt has emphasized that any breach of the agreement would not serve either side and stated that it is prepared to reconsider the treaty if violations persist.

The source confirmed that a new reality has been imposed on the ground, with Egypt deploying military reinforcements and heavy weapons in Area (C), also in violation of the treaty, as a direct response to Israeli actions. “Egypt considers this a first step in countering Israeli violations, as long as the matter does not cross red lines that endanger Egyptian security,” he said. The source emphasized that “a full reconsideration of the treaty will be seriously on the table if Israeli actions reach a level of actual threat.”

Egypt had previously filed an official complaint via the Joint Military Committee responsible for border security arrangements, concerning the location of a humanitarian aid distribution point operated by the so-called “Gaza Relief Foundation,” a U.S.- and Israeli-backed entity, near the Egyptian border. Cairo views this as a direct threat to its borders and a covert attempt to forcibly relocate Gaza residents into the Sinai.

Israel’s overarching plan, the source explained, seeks to push Gaza’s population southward, effectively shrinking the Gaza Strip to the narrow area between the Morag corridor in the south and the Salah al-Din (Philadelphi) corridor. The aim is to reduce Gaza’s population by approximately half through a combination of pressure, forced displacement, and so-called “voluntary migration.”