The US media reported on Monday, citing Egyptian officials briefed on the Israeli plans, that Israel is preparing to move civilians from Rafah to the nearby city of Khan Younis and other areas in coordination with the United States, Egypt and the United Arab Emirates.
"Diaa Rashwan categorically denied what was published in one of the major American newspapers, claiming that Egypt had discussed with the Israeli side about its plans for the planned invasion of Rafah," Egypt's SIS said in a statement.
Rashwan reaffirmed the position of the Egyptian government "of complete rejection of this invasion, which will lead to massacres, massive human losses, and widespread destruction," the statement said, adding that Cairo has repeatedly conveyed warnings to Israel in this regard.
In mid-April, media reported that Israel postponed its plans for a ground operation in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip to prioritize security matters concerning Iran.
On October 7, 2023, Palestinian movement Hamas launched a large-scale rocket attack against Israel and breached the border, attacking both civilian neighborhoods and military bases. Nearly 1,200 people in Israel were killed and some 240 others abducted during the attack. Israel launched retaliatory strikes, ordered a complete blockade of Gaza, and started a ground incursion into the Palestinian enclave with the declared goal of eliminating Hamas fighters and rescuing the hostages. Over 34,100 people have been killed so far by Israeli strikes in the Gaza Strip, according to local authorities.
Last Friday, Israel carried out an airstrike against Iran in response to Tehran's missile and drone attack over the weekend, media reported. Explosions were reported near the city of Isfahan. Air defense systems responded to the approach of drones in a number of the country's provinces. Three Iranian officials told The New York Times that the target of the strikes was an airbase near Isfahan.
The attack came after Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps launched over 300 drones and missiles at Israel in its first-ever direct attack on Israeli territory, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said. The attack came in response to Israel's airstrike on the Iranian consulate in the Syrian capital in early April. IDF spokesman Daniel Hagari said Israel had intercepted 99% of the aerial targets fired by Iran, including all drones.