A fallen military member - Gunfight erupts between Egypt and Israel.
A representative from the Egyptian military disclosed that one of their soldiers was fatally shot, making it the first publicly reported death in their ranks since the Gaza conflict began in early October. No casualties have been recorded among Israeli forces thus far.
Israel's military authorities indicated that they have been communicating with Egypt: "A short while ago, an incident took place at Egypt's border, and we are currently investigating it. We are in contact with the Egyptian side," they disclosed.
As per a story by "Ynet," Egyptian soldiers engaged in a firefight with Israeli soldiers along the Rafah border crossing, prompting the Israeli troops to respond.
Tensions near the Egyptian border have escalated recently. Three weeks ago, Israeli soldiers stationed themselves at the Rafah border crossing, assuming control over the Palestinian side as well as a border section between Egypt and Gaza.
The border crossing has since remained closed.
On Friday, the Kerem Shalom border crossing, also located on the Egyptian border, reopened to allow for the delivery of humanitarian aid and fuel. Egypt had previously shut it down in response to the Israeli military's advance into Rafah. The US State Department declared the reopening as "temporary."
Egypt and Israel have maintained peace since signing a treaty in 1979, following several wars. The current Gaza conflict is testing the relationship between these two nations.
German Federal Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock (43, Greens) urged the restoration of the EU border control mission at the border between Gaza and Egypt on Sunday.
Such a mission could facilitate the delivery of humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip if the border is opened, Baerbock affirmed during a discussion with locals at the "Democracy Festival" in Berlin.
The EU deployed the EUBAM Rafah mission to the Egyptian border in 2005 after Israel retreated from the Gaza Strip. Their purpose was to monitor border traffic, a move intended to foster trust between Israel and the Palestinian Authority. However, the mission was suspended after Hamas, a radical Islamic movement, seized power in the Gaza Strip in 2007.
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Source: symclub.org
