Politico: Egypt requested additional funding and security equipment to secure the border with Gaza and deal with the repercussions of the Rafah invasion

London - “Politico” magazine published an exclusive report in which it said that Egypt wants the United States to provide it with border security equipment, amid the Biden administration’s negotiations with Israel regarding the attack it is planning on the city of Rafah and its environs.

The magazine said that Egypt wants funding and equipment if Israel decides to launch a campaign against the city, which is crowded with more than a million Palestinians, most of whom fled the war in the northern and central Gaza Strip.

Egyptian and American officials believe that the invasion of Rafah will eventually occur

In the report, prepared by Erin Banko, it was stated that Egyptian officials made a series of demands from the United States in its negotiations with Israel regarding Gaza, including security funding and equipment, according to five officials from Egypt, the United States, and Israel.

In recent months, Cairo has asked the United States to consider assisting it and supplying it with an additional financing package and military equipment, such as security systems and radar to secure the border with Gaza, in preparation for the ground attack on Rafah, according to the five officials, whose identities were not revealed.

The magazine says that the Egyptian demands come amid American deliberations with Qatar, Egypt and Israel in order to reach a road map that would lead to a halt in the fighting that would allow the release of the remaining prisoners held by Hamas in Gaza.

As part of the talks, Israel said it wanted to eliminate the remaining Hamas fighters in the southern Gaza Strip through the operation in Rafah.

Egyptian and American officials believe that the Rafah invasion will eventually happen.

The Egyptians strongly reject the idea of ​​attacking Rafah, as they fear that the operation will push hundreds of thousands close to its borders and attempt to cross into Egyptian territory. Specifically, the Egyptians fear the possibility of Hamas fighters crossing into Sinai, the region where Cairo is facing an insurgency from extremist Islamic groups and multiple terrorist attacks.

 The magazine adds that the equipment and additional funding will help Egypt deal with the potential influx of Gazans on its borders.

However, the Egyptian request for funding and support, which came amid international negotiations, added a layer of complexity to the talks and slowed them down, according to American officials.

An Israeli official said: “In order to proceed with the invasion of Rafah, we need Egypt’s approval.” He added: “These are their borders over which they express their concern, and they do not want to absorb the Gazans from Rafah.”

Egypt asked the United States to reconsider its decision (to suspend a financial aid package) and provide additional funding in order to deal with the repercussions of the Rafah invasion.

 The magazine did not obtain a comment from the Egyptian or American Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

A third official said that the administration has increased talks with the Egyptians in recent weeks, amid the government in Cairo’s concern over the border, adding that Washington wants to close all possible smuggling routes to Hamas.

 About 1.5 million people fled to Rafah from other parts of Gaza to escape the war. There is no place for them except the border area, and the Egyptians say that Israel has prevented them from returning to the north. The magazine comments that Egypt may eventually receive support from elsewhere, most likely from Arab countries. At the beginning of this month, American officials were preparing to present a plan to secure the borders instead of the plan to invade Rafah.

Over the past years, the United States has suspended hundreds of millions of dollars due to Egypt's human rights record. In September, it approved a $235 million aid package for Egypt, but suspended an additional $85 million.

Egypt asked the United States to think again about its decision and provide additional funding to deal with the repercussions of the Rafah invasion.