Egypt Concerned as Gaza Border Pressure Escalates with Closure of Crossing

Egypt is concerned about a potential mass exodus from the Gaza Strip into its Sinai Peninsula as Israeli bombardments have halted crossings at the only exit point from the Palestinian enclave. Egypt has urged Israel to provide safe passage for civilians from Gaza instead of encouraging them to flee southwest towards Sinai. Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi has called the situation in Gaza "highly dangerous" and is pushing for a negotiated solution to the violence. The Rafah crossing, the sole possible crossing point into Sinai for Gaza's residents, has been closed from both the Palestinian and Egyptian sides due to the strikes. Egypt, which has mediated between Israel and Palestinian factions in the past, is concerned about the potential security implications of a mass influx of Palestinians into Sinai.