Fears of an escalation of regional tensions are intensifying after the exchange of fire between Israeli and Egyptian forces at the Rafah border crossingin which an Egyptian border guard was killed and comes to add to the already tense atmosphere after Sunday’s Israeli airstrike on a refugee camp in Rafah that resulted in the death of 40 Palestinians.

For the first time today, Israeli and Egyptian forces engaged in an exchange of fire during which a border guard was killed, with both sides confirming initial reports and saying the incident was under investigation.

Israeli troops took control of the Rafah border crossing from the Gaza side. of the main pipeline between the territory and Egyptearlier this month, which had already caused tension in Israel-Egypt relations.

The incident comes as international pressure mounts on Israel for the ground operation in Rafah after yesterday’s Israeli airstrike on the refugee camp sparked a storm of reactions.

Netanyahu calls the Israeli strike a “tragic accident”.

In his statement, the Prime Minister of Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu, spoke of “a tragic accident” pointing out that “despite our efforts not to hurt them, there was a tragic accident. We are investigating the incident.” For us it’s a tragedy, for Hamas it’s a strategy.”

There was a strong reaction from EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell, who attacked Israel for promoting military action in southern Gaza despite an International Court of Justice order calling on the country to immediately halt the action.

“EU countries must discuss how to agree on the implementation of the world court’s decision. Israel continues its military action despite being asked to stop. The decision of the world court last week on Gaza must be implemented,” said Josep Borrell in brief statements before the meeting of EU foreign ministers in Brussels today, and added that “he will also work to achieve a policy decision to launch a special EU border assistance mission for the Rafah border crossing, also known as EUBAM’.

Macron’s fury

In the same mood and the statement of the French president, Emmanuel Macron, who expressed his disgust at the numerous victims among the Palestinians who have taken refuge in Rafah and called for an “immediate ceasefire”.

“I am outraged by the Israeli strikes that have killed many displaced people in Rafah. These businesses must be stopped. There are no safe zones in Rafah for Palestinian civilians. I call for respect for international law and an immediate ceasefire,” the French president wrote to X.

For its part, the Israeli government announced that, according to the initial findings of the investigation into the fatal incident in Rafah, the Israeli raid caused a fire, which caused the deaths of the Palestinian civilians.

US: Israel to take every precaution to protect civilians

In softer tones the first reaction of the United States, which urged Israel to take every precaution to protect civilians after the “devastating images” of the military strike in Rafah that killed dozens of Palestinians.

“Israel has the right to go after Hamas, and we understand that this strike killed two senior Hamas terrorists responsible for attacks against Israeli civilians,” a National Security Council spokesman said. “But as we have been clear, Israel must take every possible precaution to protect civilians.