In a tragic incident near the border area of Rafah, an Egyptian soldier has lost his life following an encounter with Israeli troops. Both the Egyptian and Israeli militaries are currently conducting investigations to determine the details of what transpired.

According to Israeli media reports, there was an exchange of fire between the two sides. However, there have been no reports of Israeli casualties and limited information regarding the incident.

Tensions between Egypt and Israel have been escalating in recent weeks since Israeli forces gained control of the Gazan side of the Rafah crossing point as part of their offensive against Hamas. Egypt, a strong supporter of the Palestinian cause, has condemned Israel's military campaign in Gaza which has resulted in the deaths of thousands of civilians.

Egypt and Israel have had a complicated relationship since signing a peace deal 45 years ago. Although the peace agreement has held, relations between the two countries have often been strained. While deadly incidents between Egyptian and Israeli troops are rare, this recent event is a somber reminder of the fragile nature of the situation.

The incident occurred just hours after Egypt's foreign ministry condemned an Israeli strike on Rafah, which was reported to have claimed the lives of at least 45 people, according to Gaza's Hamas-run health ministry. Egypt accused Israel of deliberately targeting defenseless civilians, while the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) claimed the strike had killed two senior Hamas officials and promised to review reports of civilian casualties.

The blockade imposed by both Egypt and Israel on the Gaza border has further fueled tensions. Egypt, despite maintaining its blockade since Hamas assumed power in 2006, has kept channels open with the group and acted as a mediator in sporadic indirect talks between Israel and Hamas. These talks aim to achieve a ceasefire and secure the release of Israeli hostages held by Hamas in Gaza.

In recent times, violence has escalated, with Israeli settlers resorting to WhatsApp to incite and coordinate attacks. Israeli protesters have also attempted to block border crossings and targeted aid convoys destined for Gaza. The situation has garnered international attention, with a South African request being supported by the court to halt Israel's military operation.

As investigations into the border incident continue, both Egypt and Israel face the challenging task of finding a way to de-escalate tensions and find a peaceful resolution to the ongoing conflict.