Egypt-Israel Peace Accords at Risk as Israel Plans Offensive on Gaza’s Philadelphia Corridor
The tension between Egypt and Israel is escalating as Israel plans a military offensive on the Philadelphia Corridor, a narrow buffer zone between Egypt and the Gaza Strip. This offensive has raised concerns about the potential breakdown of the Egypt-Israel peace accords that have been in place for decades.
The Philadelphia Corridor, also known as the “Saladin Axis,” is a 14-kilometer-long and 100-meter-wide buffer zone established as part of the 1978 Camp David Accords between Egypt and Israel. Its purpose is to prevent armed incursions, control the movement of Palestinians, and prevent smuggling and arms trafficking between the Egyptian Sinai and the Gaza Strip.
Since Israel’s unilateral withdrawal from the Gaza Strip in 2005, the Philadelphi Corridor has been under Egyptian control. However, Israel has repeatedly expressed its intention to take control of this strategic area. Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu recently stated that Israel would provide “safe passage for the civilian population to leave” Rafah, a city in Gaza near the border. This statement has raised concerns about the fate of the already displaced Gazans and the potential humanitarian catastrophe that could occur.
Egypt has deployed around 40 tanks and armored personnel carriers in northeastern Sinai in response to the potential influx of refugees from Gaza. The Egyptian government is taking measures to reinforce security on the border with Gaza, fearing the consequences of a massive influx of refugees.
The tension surrounding the Philadelphia Corridor dates back to 2007 when Israel criticized Egypt for not effectively stopping arms smuggling through the corridor. In 2013, after the military coup in Egypt, Cairo became hostile towards Hamas, viewing it as an extension of the Muslim Brotherhood. Egypt destroyed hundreds of smuggling tunnels under the border with Gaza as retaliation against Hamas.
Netanyahu’s threat to take control of the Philadelphia Corridor has put Egypt on high alert. The risk of desperate Gazans fleeing into Egypt due to the Israeli assault is a major concern for Egyptian authorities. Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi has opposed the idea of allowing Gazans to enter Egypt and has called it a “red line.”
If Israel proceeds with its plans to take control of the Philadelphia Corridor, it could trigger a diplomatic crisis with Egypt and violate the 1978 peace treaty between the two countries. Egypt has made it clear that it will not allow this to happen and has sought support from the United States to convey its message to Israel.
The situation in the Gaza Strip remains tense, with the potential for a humanitarian catastrophe and a breakdown of the Egypt-Israel peace accords. The fate of the Philadelphia Corridor hangs in the balance as Israel’s offensive plans unfold. The international community will be closely watching the developments and hoping for a peaceful resolution to avoid further escalation in the region.
