Egypt breaks the peace treaty with Israel if Israel pushes into Gaza border town

• Over half of Gaza's population has fled to Rafah to escape fighting, fearing a mass influx of Palestinian refugees.
• The standoff between Israel and Egypt is escalating the humanitarian situation in Gaza.
• Israel's offensive has wrought widespread destruction, particularly in northern Gaza.

On Sunday, Egyptian officials and a Western diplomat stated that Egypt is threatening to suspend its peace treaty with Israel if Israeli troops deploy into the densely populated Gaza border town of Rafah. They also mentioned that fighting in Rafah could potentially lead to the closure of the besieged territory's main aid supply route.

This threat to suspend the Camp David Accords, a cornerstone of regional stability for nearly a half-century, followed Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's statement asserting the necessity of sending troops into Rafah to secure victory in the four-month war against the Palestinian militant group Hamas.

Over half of Gaza's population of 2.3 million have fled to Rafah to escape fighting in other areas, packing into sprawling tent camps and UN-run shelters near the border. Egypt fears a mass influx of hundreds of thousands of Palestinian refugees who may never be allowed to return.

The standoff between Israel and Egypt, two close US allies, occurs as aid groups warn that an offensive in Rafah would exacerbate the already catastrophic humanitarian situation in Gaza. Approximately 80 percent of residents have fled their homes, and the UN reports that a quarter of the population faces starvation.

Hamas's Al Aqsa television station quoted an unnamed Hamas official as saying that any invasion of Rafah would "blow up" talks mediated by the United States, Egypt, and Qatar aimed at a ceasefire and the release of Israeli hostages.

Gaza City:

But Israel's offensive has wrought widespread destruction, particularly in northern Gaza, and heavy fighting continues in central Gaza and the southern city of Khan Younis. In Gaza City on Sunday, remaining residents covered decomposing bodies in the streets or carried bodies to graves. Bombings piled sand high on some streets, and destroyed buildings billowed smoke.

A ground operation in Rafah could sever one of the only avenues for delivering Gaza's badly needed food and medical supplies.

All three officials confirmed Egypt's threats, speaking on condition of anonymity because they lacked authorization to brief reporters on the sensitive negotiations. Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and other countries have also cautioned of severe repercussions if Israel enters Rafah.

“An Israeli offensive on Rafah would lead to an unspeakable humanitarian catastrophe and grave tensions with Egypt,” European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell wrote on X.

The White House, which has expedited arms shipments to Israel and shielded it from international calls for a ceasefire, has also cautioned against a Rafah ground operation under current circumstances, stating that it would constitute a "disaster" for civilians.

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