Context: The pre-war population of Rafah, the southernmost city of the Gaza strip sharing a border with Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula, was 1,70,000.

Sinai Peninsula 

• Location: It is a triangle-shaped peninsula situated in northeastern Egypt.

o It is under the sovereign control of Egypt.

• Significance: Serving as a land bridge, it connects Asia and Africa.
• Area: 23,500 square miles (61,000 square km).
• Boundaries: The Sinai Peninsula lies between the Gulf of Suez and the Suez Canal on the west and the Gulf of Aqaba and the Negev on the east, and it is bounded by the Mediterranean Sea on the north and the Red Sea to the south.
• History of Sinai Peninsula:

o Colonial Era: Egypt, encompassing Sinai, became part of the British Empire in the late 19th century.

o Independence: Egypt gained independence from British rule in 1922, yet retained sovereignty over Sinai.

o During the Six-Day War in June 1967, Israeli forces seized control of the peninsula.

o Return to Egypt: The Sinai Peninsula was returned to Egypt in 1982 as per the terms of the 1979 peace agreement between Egypt and Israel.