Shelling occurred in the Rafah border area adjacent to the Gaza Strip. A member of the Egyptian border guard was killed. The Egyptian army reported this information on Monday. They also said that the investigation has started in this incident.

The city of Rafah is located in the southernmost part of the Gaza Strip. It is an area bordering Egypt. The Rafah border area has been occupied by Israeli forces since May 7.

A statement from the Egyptian army yesterday said, “Egyptian armed forces through the appropriate authorities are investigating the incident of shelling in the Rafah border area. An Egyptian guard was martyred in the shooting incident.

The Israeli army also reported incidents of shelling along the Egyptian border. They also said that discussions are going on with Egypt in this regard.

According to the report of Al Cairo News, a media associated with the Egyptian intelligence agency, the preliminary investigation into the incident of these shootings showed that there was a shooting incident between the Israeli army and the Palestinian fighters. Shootings have taken place in several places due to this incident. The report was published on the statement of an Egyptian defense official.

The official added that members of the Egyptian security forces are taking protective measures and trying to determine the cause of the shootings.

Since the start of the war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza on October 7, Egypt has been trying to simultaneously express solidarity with the Palestinians and maintain relations with Israel.

Egypt was the first Arab country to sign a peace treaty with Israel in 1979. Since then, the relationship between the two countries has been termed as ‘cold peace’.

Egypt fears that the effects of the war in Gaza may spread inside the country. This concern has intensified since Israeli forces took control of the Rafah border area. The Rafah crossing is considered an important route for the delivery of aid to Gaza.

A policeman opened fire on an Israeli tourist group in the Egyptian city of Alexandria shortly after the start of the Israeli-Palestinian war in October. Two Israeli tourists and their Egyptian guide were killed.

Earlier in June 2023, Israel said an Egyptian policeman committed suicide after crossing the border and shooting dead three Israeli soldiers. However, the Egyptian army said at the time that three Israelis were killed in a clash with a member of the Egyptian security forces.

They claim that the member of the Egyptian security forces crossed the border while chasing drug smugglers.