Satellite images show wall construction near Egypt-Gaza border

SINAI/RAFAH: Satellite images on Thursday showed an area that sources said was being prepared by Egypt near the Gaza border, which could accommodate Palestinians in case an Israeli offensive into Rafah prompts an exodus across the frontier.

Egypt, which denied making any such preparations, has repeatedly raised the alarm over the possibility that Israel’s devastating Gaza offensive could displace Palestinians into Sinai – something Cairo says would be completely unacceptable- echoing warnings from Arab states such as Jordan.

The United States has repeatedly said it would oppose any displacement of Palestinians out of Gaza.

Read more: China condemns US veto on Gaza ceasefire resolution

Israel has said it will mount an offensive to take out Hamas’s “last bastion” in Rafah, where well over one million Palestinians have sought sanctuary from its devastating Gaza offensive.

The satellite images also showed a long line of parked trucks, on the Egyptian side of the border, as the United Nations on Wednesday said aid from Egypt had almost dried up in the past two weeks.

According to the UN figures, from February 9 to February 20 the daily average fell to just 57 trucks. On seven of those twelve days, 20 or fewer trucks made it through, including just four trucks on February 17.

Deliveries through the Rafah Crossing between Egypt and Gaza have been almost totally halted, the UN said.