Egypt has rejected proposals to establish a safe corridor into Sinai for Palestinians fleeing Israel’s bombing campaign in Gaza, Reuters reported yesterday, citing what it says are several Egyptian security sources. US national security advisor Jake Sullivan on Tuesday said that Washington is in talks with Egyptian and Israeli officials about establishing a safe passage for civilians, but declined to go into details.

The humanitarian crisis is deepening: Dozens of Israeli fighter jets continued to bomb Gaza yesterday ahead of what many expect will be an Israeli ground invasion, demolishing entire neighborhoods and striking the Islamic University of Gaza. Israel has placed the densely-populated territory under total siege, cutting off food, water, fuel and aid to the more than 2.2 mn people. Gaza’s only power station shut down yesterday due to the lack of fuel and medical supplies are running low.

In numbers: More than 1k Palestinians have been killed in Gaza during the five days of fighting while the death toll in Israel has risen above 1.2k, according to the latest figures. The bombing has left 5.3k people wounded in Gaza and 180k have been made homeless.

The focus of discussions is on getting aid into Gaza, not on allowing refugees across the border, the Egyptian sources reportedly told Reuters. Egypt has held talks with the US, Qatar and Turkey about delivering humanitarian aid via the Rafah crossing between the Sinai and Gaza under a limited ceasefire, they said. Israeli forces have repeatedly bombed the border crossing this week, and warned Egypt that any aid trucks it sends across the border will be targeted.

Egyptian officials have warned Israel against trying to force Palestinians across the border into Egypt after an IDF spokesperson on Monday encouraged them to use the Rafah crossing between Gaza and the Sinai. In an address on Tuesday, President Abdel Fattah El Sisi said that Egypt’s national security is his “top priority” and that “there will be no compromise or complacency under any circumstances.” Israel’s ambassador to Egypt later retracted the statement.

The Arab League called for a ceasefire and a lifting of the siege “immediately” during an emergency summit in Cairo yesterday. In a statement (pdf). Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry warned delegates that the “unprecedented” escalation of tensions could be a “dangerous turning point” for the region, emphasizing the need to finally settle the issue of the Israeli occupation.

DIPLOMACY- Axios reports that the UAE has warned Syria not to allow attacks on Israel to be launched from its territory, while Biden yesterday told Tehran to “be careful” about further escalating the conflict with Tel Aviv. A first for Riyadh and Tehran: The leaders of the two countries spoke by phone for the first time normalizing ties in March. Iranian state media says the two discussed the need to “stop war crimes” while the Saudi Press Agency notes that Crown Prince Mohamed bin Salman said the kingdom is trying to halt the escalation.

AND- El Sisi had calls yesterday with UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, while Shoukry handled outreach to local UN officials.

Tags: