Egypt deploys military convoys to Gaza border as tensions with Israel flare

Egypt deployed additional armoured personnel carriers and soldiers to its border with Gaza in northeastern Sinai this week as an Israeli ground operation in neighbouring Rafah appears imminent, a rights group said.

Fifteen armoured personnel carriers mounted with combat gear were spotted by Sinai residents of Sheikh Zuweid travelling toward Egypt’s border with Gaza on Wednesday evening, the Sinai Foundation for Human Rights said on Thursday.

Separately, another convoy of armoured vehicles arrived in the village of Al-Joura, south of Sheikh Zuweid, the foundation said.

The deployment comes amid a deepening rift between Egypt and Israel over the latter's offensive on Rafah, the southern Gaza border city. Last week, Israel seized the Rafah border crossing with Egypt and launched military operations in the city where around 1.5 million displaced Palestinians are sheltering.

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