Tribal faction in Egypt advocates for an 'unconventional border passage' following Israeli infiltration in Rafah.
Impassioned tribal alliance based in Egypt, the Arab Tribes Union (ATU), took to the stage on Monday, urging the presidency to swifter action on establishing a new crossing with Gaza. The plea comes shortly after Israel claimed operational control of the Rafah crossing, the sole conduit of entry and exit between Gaza and Egypt, last week.
"Without delay, we demand the creation of an alternative crossing until Israel relinquishes the Rafah land crossing," declared the ATU in their statement, shared via the Saudi al-Hadath channel on Monday. The tribal group also called for immediate action from the Egyptian presidency in fortifying Egyptian borders with Gaza.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced their control over the Palestinian side of the Rafah crossing, the only travel hub for the Gaza Strip not governed by Israel previously. The Israeli flag now wave proudly at the border crossing, while the Palestinian flag remains dismally earthbound.
Critics raise doubts as to whether Israel and Egypt coordinated their actions before the invasion, questioning the invasion’s legality in the process. The operation has also hampered the flow of crucial aid to the starving inhabitants of Gaza, as the crossing now serves as a barrier—an only land access primarily managed by Israel until the invasion.
The ATU insists on compelling Israel to abandon the Rafah border crossing and enforcing Egyptian authority within the region. Founded in a celebratory gathering on May 1st, the ATU is an alliance of five Egyptian Bedouin tribes, dedicated to uniting tribes under the banner of protecting the Egyptian state against security threats.
President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi was bestowed the honorary presidency role, and the Union of Sinai Tribes (UST), a group that has collaborated with the Egyptian army to fight militancy in North Sinai over the past decade, is a significant member. The ATU is also orchestrated by Ibrahim al-Organi, a powerful pro-Sisi businessman and militia leader who stands accused of charging exorbitant fees for Palestinian refugees fleeing conflict and for aid trucks seeking entry to the enclave [1].
Organi's Hala company may have raked in at least $118 million from Palestinian refugees within the last three months alone, according to Middle East Eye. Besides, Sons of Sinai, Organi's construction firm, serves as the main contractor for housing projects in Sinai, employed by the Egyptian state [1].
Signs of concern abound as Mustafa Bakry, the official spokesperson for Organi's ATU, labels the union as "a faction of the Egyptian army." Such a designation fuels anxiety about the emergence of a murky paramilitary entity that operates alongside the Egyptian military [2].
Earlier this month, MEE reported on recent meetings between Egypt's military intelligence and Sinai tribes to discuss their potential involvement if Israel invaded Rafah in southern Gaza [2]. The ATU has issued multiple statements since its launch, addressing the dynamics of the Rafah invasion and urging international intervention to quell Israel's advance [2].
The Rafah crossing, which remains sealed to the public since May 7, 2024, has significantly impacted the movement of people and resources, leading to a critical humanitarian predicament within Gaza. The crossing provides essential lifelines for humanitarian aid and civilian passage, thereby aggravating the already treacherous situation in the Strip [3].
However, attempts by activist groups to galvanize attention and pressure for the opening of Rafah have been thwarted by Egyptian authorities. Activists had planned a march from Arish to the Egypt-Gaza border to highlight the unfolding disaster, but were deterred by Egyptian border forces, with manyRemove activists being expelled unfairly, under the pretext of lacking official approval [4].
This reluctance or inability of Egypt to challenge Israel's control and maintain the status quo has frustrated calls for an alternative crossing or reopening of the Rafah border, with the crossing remaining closed under stringent control, thereby restricting Gaza's links to the wider world via Egypt [3].
- The Arab Tribes Union (ATU) in Egypt urged the Egyptian presidency to expedite efforts in establishing a new crossing with Gaza, as a countermeasure to Israel's control over the Rafah crossing.
- The ATU's statement, shared by the Saudi al-Hadath channel, also emphasized the necessity for immediate Egyptian border fortification with Gaza.
- Israel claimed operational control of the Rafah crossing, the only undisputed conduit between Gaza and Egypt, last week, amidst questions over the legality of the invasion and its impact on Palestinians.
- The ATU seeks to compel Israel to abandon the Rafah border crossing, strengthen Egyptian authority in the region, and manage the refugee crisis more effectively.
- The Middle East Eye reported that Ibrahim al-Organi's Hala company, associated with the ATU, has allegedly earned at least $118 million from Palestinian refugees over the last three months.
- The ongoing closure of the Rafah crossing, which began on May 7, 2024, has exacerbated the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, limiting the passage of people and resources, and hindering international intervention efforts.
