In response to the intensification of Israeli military operations in Gaza, Egypt has significantly strengthened its security measures along the northeastern Sinai border adjoining Gaza. This move comes as Egypt aims to mitigate the risk of Palestinians being forcibly displaced into its territory due to the ongoing conflict. Approximately 40 tanks and armored personnel carriers have been deployed to the region within the last two weeks, underscoring the gravity of Egypt’s concerns as the Israeli offensive zeroes in on Rafah, Gaza’s southern city. This city has become a refuge for a significant portion of the enclave’s population seeking safety from the hostilities.
Since the outbreak of hostilities between Israel and Hamas on October 7, Egypt has constructed a robust concrete border wall, which extends six meters into the ground and is topped with barbed wire, to thwart any potential smuggling activities. Additionally, berms have been erected, and surveillance at border posts has been enhanced to ensure a tight seal against the infiltration of goods and weapons into Gaza from Egyptian territory. Satellite imagery and reports from the Sinai Foundation for Human Rights depict the recent installations and reinforcements along the 13-km border stretch adjacent to Rafah, including the extension of the wall to the sea’s edge at its northern end.
Palestinians fleeing Khan Younis, due to the Israeli ground operation, move towards Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip, January 29. REUTERS/Mohammed Salem
The Philadelphi Corridor, a buffer zone established as part of the 1979 peace treaty between Egypt and Israel, has been a focal point in discussions surrounding border control and security. Egyptian officials have refuted Israeli claims of smuggling into Gaza from Egypt, labeling them as attempts to deflect from Israel’s military challenges in the ongoing conflict. Despite Israel’s expressed intentions to regain control over the Philadelphi Corridor to ensure Gaza’s demilitarization, Egypt has demonstrated its capability and commitment to managing border security through regular destruction of smuggling tunnels and stringent surveillance measures.
The conflict has strained the historically complex relationship between Egypt and Israel, which has been characterized by cooperation and tension in equal measure. Egypt’s strategic and humanitarian efforts to prevent the displacement of Gazans into Sinai reflect broader regional concerns and the delicate balance Cairo must maintain between its national security interests and the sympathetic stance of many Egyptians towards the Palestinian cause.
