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Dr Burcu Ozcelik, a fellow at the Royal United Services Institute think-tank in London, said a full-scale occupation “would mark the beginning of a bleak and highly volatile new phase of the war with far-reaching regional and international implications”. She suggested the plan might have come in response and retaliation for European plans to recognise a Palestinian state, as well as the failure to agree to a ceasefire with Hamas that would release the hostages."

“Relations between Cairo and Tel Aviv have been at their lowest point in years over Israel’s war on Gaza, which has angered Egyptian society in every sector and at every level,” said Dr HA Hellyer, senior associate fellow in Middle East studies and security at the Royal United Services Institute. “Many Egyptians will fear that Israel’s impact on Egyptian energy may mean it will try to use it to pressure Cairo.”

Spain has been perhaps one of the slowest to reach NATO targets, and clearly this time is not making any guarantees to reach the 5% target that NATO have now agreed. So there's an element there of falling out, perhaps, with America, and that then causes them some concerns. And there is also the concerns about buying from America for some countries. There are concerns about what that might mean in terms of sovereignty. And for Spain, of course, they've got their own aviation industry. They may be looking to stay within programmes that benefit their own internal growth."