Israel has effectively extended its control over the entire Gaza Strip’s land border after its military established operational control over the strategically important Philadelphi Corridor, a nine-mile-wide buffer zone separating Gaza from Egypt. This area was the last segment of Gaza’s land border not under direct Israeli control until now.
The Israeli military announced this development on Wednesday night, stating that the Philadelphi Corridor had been a crucial smuggling route for Hamas, allowing the militant group to bring weapons into Gaza. Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari, Israel’s chief military spokesperson, described the corridor as “Hamas’s oxygen tube,” used regularly for smuggling munitions.
The move to control the corridor is part of Israel’s broader strategy to prevent Hamas from rearming. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu emphasized the necessity of this control in December, asserting the importance of closing the corridor to curb Hamas’s capabilities. The operation also aligns with Israel’s ongoing assault on Gaza’s southernmost city of Rafah, where a large number of Palestinians have been killed.
Israeli officials have revealed that the military’s presence along parts of the Philadelphi Corridor includes “boots on the ground.” An Israeli military official, speaking anonymously, mentioned that troops had identified at least 20 tunnels running from Gaza into Egypt. These tunnels, used for smuggling, have been a long standing issue, with Egypt claiming to have destroyed over 2,000 such tunnels since 2011.
What is the Philadelphi Corridor that Israel wanted to control? And finally they did it.
In a significant development, IDF has taken control of the Philadelphi Corridor.
This will change the entire scenario of the war between Israel and Hamas.Philadelphi Corridor separates… pic.twitter.com/qhDT3AGa3d
— Civil Learning (@CivilLearning1) May 29, 2024
The control of the Philadelphi Corridor has strained Israel’s relations with Egypt. Egypt’s state-run Al-Qahera News broadcaster denied Israeli claims of finding 20 Hamas tunnels, and Egyptian officials have warned that Israeli occupation of the border area could severely damage bilateral relations. Egypt has a history of fighting local militants aligned with the Islamic State group on its side of the border and has previously proposed extensive measures, such as digging a canal, to secure the border.
In the wake of the Israeli military’s announcement, Egypt reiterated that it does not consider cross-border tunnels a current issue, citing its efforts to eliminate them in recent years. However, the seizure of the corridor has raised tensions, with recent incidents such as the killing of an Egyptian soldier near the Rafah crossing adding to the strain.
The Israeli military’s action also comes amid stalled negotiations for a ceasefire and the return of hostages held by Hamas, mediated by Egypt, Qatar, and the United States. Israel’s 1979 peace treaty with Egypt tightly regulates troop deployments in the area, including the Philadelphi Corridor, designed to maintain a buffer between the two nations.
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