Israel fears Egypt might exit from mediation role as ties with Cairo hit new low

Israel is anticipating that cracks within its relationship with Egypt may widen and the latter might retreat as the mediator between Tel Aviv and Hamas to help the two warring sides reach a ceasefire deal.

According to a report by Haaretz, Israel fears that its current crisis with Egypt might hamper military and intelligence cooperation between the two countries.

Israel and Egypt are witnessing a standoff over aid flow to Gaza. Both nations have accused each other of blocking humanitarian aid to war-stricken Gaza.

In the report, an unknown official was quoted saying, “The current situation vis-a-vis Egypt is the worst that has been since the war began.”

Another official said that while Egypt was receptive to Israel’s goal of toppling Hamas at the start of the war, things have changed after the Benjamin Netanyahu-led government launched its Rafah operation. “They have been purposely acting to hinder us and to try and compel us to stop the war,” the official said.

Egypt joins ICJ’s case against Israel

Earlier this week, Cairo announced that it would join South Africa’s request to the International Court of Justice to hear cases against Israel’s military operation in Rafah.

Meanwhile, ICJ has agreed to hear cases on the same on South Africa’s request.

In an interview with the Associated Press, an Egyptian official said that Cairo has complained to the United States and European governments, saying that its peace treaty with Israel is at “high risk.”

While announcing its backing to South Africa for ICJ hearings on Israel, Egypt said, “The decision comes in light of the worsening severity and scope of Israeli attacks against Palestinian civilians in the Gaza Strip, and the continued perpetration of systematic practices against the Palestinian people, including direct targeting of civilians and the destruction of infrastructure in the Strip, and pushing Palestinians to flee.”

Israel and Egypt row

Israel said on Tuesday that it was up to Egypt to reopen the Rafah crossing and allow humanitarian relief into the Gaza Strip, prompting Cairo to denounce what it described as “desperate attempts” to shift blame for the blockage of aid.

“The key to preventing a humanitarian crisis in Gaza is now in the hands of our Egyptian friends,” Israel’s Foreign Affairs Minister Israel Katz said in comments released by his office.

Katz said he had spoken with his British and German counterparts about “the need to persuade Egypt to reopen the Rafah crossing”, adding he would also speak with Italy’s foreign minister later on Tuesday.

The comments drew a swift and angry response from Egypt’s foreign ministry, which said Israel was responsible for the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and that Israel’s military operations in Rafah were the main factor blocking aid.

With inputs from agencies