Cairo [Egypt], May 13: The move highlights growing tensions between the two neighbors, as Israeli military operations in Rafah , a municipality in the southern Gaza Strip and bordering Egypt , are testing long-standing agreements. term as well as security cooperation, according to Reuters.
"The announcement to intervene in this case comes in the context of an expansion in the scope and scale of Israel's violations that harm civilians in Gaza," the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said . good, but does not clearly state what the intervention includes. Cairo once presented its arguments in this lawsuit.
South Africa on May 10 asked the ICJ to order Israel to withdraw from Rafah as part of new emergency measures, while the court considered a case surrounding accusations of Israeli genocide in Gaza. Israel denies this accusation.
According to Egyptian security sources, Egyptian officials told the Israeli side that Israel's actions were the cause of tension in bilateral relations and caused ceasefire negotiations held in Cairo to fall into disarray. deadlock.
Hamas, which is fighting Israel in Gaza, welcomed Egypt's latest move. "We appreciate the announcement by the Arab Republic of Egypt of its intention to join the lawsuit filed by the Republic of South Africa," Hamas said in a statement on May 12.
In December 2023, South Africa launched a lawsuit against Israel at the ICJ, calling on the United Nations court to order Israel to end its military campaign in Gaza. In a document sent to the ICJ on May 10, Pretoria once again accused Israel of "continuing to violate the Genocide Convention" and "disregarding" international law, according to AFP.
On May 6, Israel deployed infantry and tanks in the eastern area of Rafah, then occupied and closed the Gaza side of the Rafah border gate connecting with Egypt.
Egypt was the first Arab country to sign a peace treaty with Israel in 1979 and has served as the main mediator between Israeli and Palestinian negotiators, including in the current war.
Egypt is also the only country other than Israel to have a land border with Gaza, but has refused to coordinate aid access through the Rafah crossing since Israeli forces took over the crossing on the Gaza side.
When asked about the 1979 treaty with Israel amid the developments in Rafah, Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry emphasized on May 12 that this agreement is necessary to ensure security and have a mechanism to handle any violations, but he not more specific.
Source: Thanh Nien Newspaper
