Netanyahu’s office denies the validity of a report of withdrawal from the Philadelphia axis

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said on Wednesday that Israel had not agreed to withdraw its forces from the Philadelphia axis on the border between Egypt and the Gaza Strip, denying the validity of a report on Israeli television saying that the Prime Minister agreed. withdraw forces.

Netanyahu’s office said in a statement, “Israel wants to achieve all of its war objectives, as set by the security cabinet, including that Gaza is no longer a security threat to Israel . This must protect the southern border. “

The Philadelphia Axis, also known as the “Salah al-Din Axis,” is located along the border between Gaza and Egypt, and is within a buffer zone under the “Camp David” peace agreement between Egypt and Israel, signed in 1978, and the length is 14 km.

This agreement allows Israel and Egypt to deploy forces with limited numbers and equipment, and specific numbers, types of weapons, and methods that can be deployed on that axis, with the aim of carrying out patrols, to prevent smuggling, infiltration and other criminals. activities.

Israeli forces controlled Area D, which includes the Philadelphia axis, until they withdrew from it and handed it over to the Palestinian Authority in 2005. To impose an Egyptian presence on way for border guard forces, a new agreement was signed called the “Philadelphia Agreement. “

Israel signed the Philadelphia Agreement with Egypt as part of the Camp David Agreement, which specified a distance of 14 kilometers as a buffer strip along the border between Egypt and Gaza.

The agreement came after the Israeli Knesset approved, in 2004, a decision to withdraw all Israeli forces from the Gaza Strip, which took effect in August 2005.