Israel's Iron Dome anti-missile system intercepts rockets launched from the Gaza Strip, as seen from the Israeli side of the border between Israel and the Gaza Strip, October 8, 2023. REUTERS/Amir Cohen/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsCAIRO, Oct 9 (Reuters) - Egypt has been in close contact with Israel and Hamas to try to prevent further escalation in fighting between them and ensure the protection of Israelis taken hostage by Palestinian militants, two Egyptian security sources said on Monday. Some 7,000 Israeli tourists have returned from Sinai to Israel since the fighting erupted, the Egyptian security sources said. On Sunday, two Israeli tourists and an Egyptian guide were shot dead at an archaeological site in the northern Egyptian city of Alexandria. The Egyptian policeman accused of carrying out the killing has been referred to a military court, one of the security sources said.

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Persons: Amir Cohen, Ahmed Mohamed Hassan, Abdelnasser, Aidan Lewis, Hugh Lawson, Angus MacSwan Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Hamas, Gaza, Islamic, Thomson Locations: Gaza, Israel, Rights CAIRO, Egypt, Palestinian, Israeli, Cairo, Sinai, Rafah, Egyptian, Alexandria, Tel Aviv, South, Sharm