Title: Israel Plans Full-Scale Offensive on Rafah, Sparks Concerns over Peace Accords
In a move that has sparked concerns over the fragile peace accords, Israel has announced plans for a full-scale military offensive on Rafah, Gaza’s southernmost city, near the Egypt-Gaza border. The offensive aims to take control of the “Philadelphia Corridor,” a narrow buffer zone established as part of the 1978 Camp David Accords between Egypt and Israel.
Egypt, worried about the potential breakdown of the Egypt-Israel peace accords, has expressed its concerns during truce talks in Cairo amid the ongoing Israel-Hamas war. The conflict has intensified Israel’s interest in seizing the Philadelphi Corridor once again, leading to worries about a possible humanitarian catastrophe.
In response, Israel has pledged to provide “safe passage” for civilians to leave Rafah amidst the offensive. However, the United Nations remains skeptical of Israel’s plans. Meanwhile, Egypt has deployed tanks and armored personnel carriers to reinforce border security with Gaza, fearing an influx of Gazans into its territory due to the ongoing assault.
The Philadelphi Corridor, a 14km-long and 100m-wide buffer zone, serves as a crucial barrier between Egypt and the Gaza Strip. Its primary objective is to prevent armed incursions, control movement, and stem smuggling activities between Sinai and Gaza. From 1978 until 2005, Israel controlled the corridor, but its unilateral withdrawal allowed Egypt to deploy its own border guards.
Subsequently, the Palestinian Authority (PA) initially assumed security responsibilities on the Gaza side. However, the PA lost control in 2007, leading to an Israeli blockade and the emergence of smuggling tunnels. In 2013, Egypt destroyed hundreds of these tunnels after a military coup ousted President Mohamed Morsi, who was seen as supportive of Hamas.
Recent attacks on Israeli soil have reignited Israel’s interest in the Philadelphi Corridor. Prime Minister Netanyahu emphasized the need to shut it down. However, Egypt’s State Information Service (SIS) argues that any Israeli “occupation” of the corridor would contravene the 1978 peace treaty between the two nations.
Egypt has made it clear that this would be a red line for them and has used diplomatic channels to convey their message to Israel. The risk of Gazans fleeing into Egyptian territory due to the Israeli assault adds to Egypt’s concerns over the potential breakdown of the peace accords.
As tensions rise, the international community watches closely, hoping for a peaceful resolution to prevent further escalation and protect the already fragile peace agreements in the region.
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