Photo by Majdi Fathi/TPS on 1 November, 2023

Egyptian Soldier Reportedly Killed in Exchange of Fire With Israeli Forces

Public By Pesach Benson • 27 May, 2024

Jerusalem, 27 May, 2024 (TPS) -- The Israel Defense Forces confirmed an exchange of fire between Israeli and Egyptian soldiers at the Rafah border crossing on Monday.

“The incident is being investigated and discussions are being held with the Egyptians,” the IDF said.

According to reports, one Egyptian soldier was killed in the shootout. It wasn’t clear who fired first or why.

Rafah sits on the Gaza-Egypt border and is Hamas’s last stronghold with an estimated four battalions. Israel’s delegation of the ICJ told the judges that of the 700 tunnels located in Rafah by the army, approximately 50 crossed into Egypt. Those tunnels are used for weapons smuggling and could also be used to take hostages out of the Strip.

Israel took control of the Palestinian side of the Rafah border crossing on May 7 to prevent Hamas from commandeering humanitarian aid deliveries from Egypt.”

The Egypt-Gaza border is politically sensitive, technically a demilitarized zone under the terms of the Camp David Accords signed in 1978.

At least 1,200 people were killed, and 252 Israelis and foreigners were taken hostage in Hamas’s attacks on Israeli communities near the Gaza border on October 7. Of the 125 remaining hostages, 39 are believed dead.