BICOM

Egyptian authorities have announced that they will significantly expand a buffer zone with the Gaza Strip created towards the end of last year, which aims to prevent the smuggling of arms and fighters into the Sinai Peninsula from Gaza.

In October, Egypt announced that 800 homes would be destroyed to make way for the creation of a 500-metre wide buffer zone spanning a nine-mile stretch along the Gaza border. The move came after a huge double terror attack in northern Sinai, which killed 33 Egyptian soldiers. At the time, Maj. Gen. Sameeh Beshadi told Egyptian media there was “no doubt that Palestinian elements had taken part in the attacks.” Egypt’s President al-Sisi declared a state of emergency in parts of Sinai. He said that “foreign forces” were responsible for the attack and ordered the closure of the Rafah border crossing with Gaza. Egyptian officials have long accused Hamas of supporting terrorist groups in Sinai.

Since ousting the Muslim Brotherhood from power in Egypt in 2013, al-Sisi’s regime has been the main target of Sinai terror groups, especially Ansar Bayt al-Maqdis, which has also targeted Israel on occasion. Egypt’s offensive in response to the group has included the destruction of more than 1,500 smuggling tunnels into Sinai from the Gaza Strip. Egyptian authorities believe that the tunnels have been used to smuggle weapons and fighters into Sinai from Gaza, with at least tacit support from Hamas.

The creation of a buffer zone is designed to more effectively halt such action. However, it was announced over the weekend that Egypt has decided to double the size of the buffer zone to a 1-kilometre wide area. In addition to the 800 homes already destroyed, an additional 1,200 homes will now be pulled down to accommodate the buffer zone. According to Haaretz, governor of northern Sinai, Abdel-Fattah Harhour has even suggested evacuating the entire Gaza border town of Rafah and relocating its residents, who will also receive compensation.