Israel Prolongs Full Control on Gaza’s Land Border

• Roshan Amiri
• . May 31, 2024
• . Update: May 31, 2024 6:20 pm
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Israel’s military stated that it has taken full control over the Philadelphi Corridor, which is a strategically important buffer zone along the Gaza-Egypt border, which means that it has now taken control over Gaza’s entire land border. Israel’s defense force spokesperson stated that they have found about 20 tunnels that were used by Hamas to smuggle weapons into Gaza. The Egyptians have denied the existence of the found tunnels and suggested that Israel was trying to justify the military operation in Rafah, the southern Gaza city. Despite this, the IDF continues its offensive in Rafah and various other parts of Gaza and has said that the strike has hit over 50 terror targets over the past day.

The IDF has stated that three soldiers of Israel were killed and three were badly injured in a trapped building in Rafah. They have also stated that during a car-ramming attack, two other soldiers were killed near the city of Nablus.

What has the IDF spokesperson said?

Rear Admiral Daniel Hagri, spokesperson for the Israel Defense Force, has stated that forces have established operational control of the Philadelphi corridor. He also described the area as the lifeline of Hamas, from where the group smuggled weapons into the Gaza strip. He also said that the soldiers were neutralizing and investigating tunnels found in this area. Later, Mr. Hagri also briefed the reporters, saying that it is not confirmed whether all the tunnels went into Egypt. The narrow buffer zone of the Philadelphi border is 100 metres wide along Gaza’s border with Egypt, stretching about 13 kilometres. The second and only other land border in Gaza is Israel itself.

Egypt previously stated it had destroyed tunnels.

Previously, Egypt stated that it had already destroyed cross-border tunnels to prevent any type of weapon smuggling. Israel has argued that it is important to take control of Rafah to win the war. The conflict started after Hamas launched a significant attack on the country on October 7. During the attack, around 1,200 people were killed and 252 people were taken hostage. According to the Hamas-run health ministry, since the conflict started, at least 36,170 people have been killed across Gaza.

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Growing Tensions Between Egypt and Israel

Since Israeli forces took control over the Gazan side of the Rafah, tensions between Egypt and Israel have risen. Earlier, during a border incident that involved Egyptian and Israeli troops, one Egyptian soldier lost his life. Egypt has strongly supported the Palestinians and has also criticized Israel for the country’s military actions in Gaza, condemning the killing of thousands of innocent lives during the conflict. Since 2006 when Hamas came into power Egypt just like Israel has maintained a blockade on its border with Gaza. Hamas is an Islamist muslim brotherhood organization which is banned in Egypt considering it as a terrorist group .