KUALA LUMPUR – Israel has claimed it now controls the entire length of Gaza’s border with Egypt and has found tunnels used by Hamas to smuggle weapons into the occupied territory.
International media quoted Israel Defense Forces (IDF) spokesman Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari as saying the Philadelphi Corridor, deemed a strategic zone some 13 km in length between Gaza and Egypt, had been brought under its control in recent days.
He said about 20 tunnels were found in the area, reportedly measuring about 100m wide in some parts, which were allegedly used for weapons smuggling.
Israel’s military said Wednesday it has seized control of the entire length of Gaza’s border with Egypt, without elaborating. Capturing the strategic Philadelphi corridor signals that Israel has deepened its offensive in southern Gaza.
Egypt, however, has denied the IDF’s claims. Local broadcaster Al-Qahera News reported that high-level sources accused Israel of using such allegations to justify its continued operation on Rafah and to prolong the war for “political purposes”.
Israel’s claims follow attacks by its forces on two tent cities in Rafah in southern Gaza where displaced Palestinians had been sheltering.
Despite facing international condemnation after more than 36,000 Palestinian deaths, its national security adviser Teach Hanegbi yesterday said another seven months of war are expected in order for Israel to fully destroy the military and governing capabilities of Hamas and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad group. – May 30, 2024