Egypt sends 65 tons of medical aids to Gaza Strip as Israeli bombings continue
Jan 3,
2024. Posted by Balkan
Periscope - Hellas
In recent
weeks, the term "Philadelphia Axis" has surfaced amidst the ongoing
conflict between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip, with the declared goal of
eliminating the Hamas movement.
The most recent mention of the Philadelphia Axis came from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who stated on Saturday that "Israel must have full control over the axis to ensure disarmament in the region."
He also
added during a press conference, "The Philadelphia Axis, or more precisely
the southern stop point (in Gaza), must be under our control. It must be
closed. It is clear that any other arrangement will not guarantee the
disarmament we seek."
So, what is the Philadelphia Axis, and why
does it hold strategic significance for both Israel and Egypt?
• The Philadelphia Axis, also known as
the Salah al-Din Axis, refers to a strip of land along the border between Egypt
and the Gaza Strip.
• It falls within Zone D of the Sinai
Peninsula, as defined by the 1979 peace treaty signed between Egypt and Israel.
• The axis stretches from the
Mediterranean Sea in the north to the Kerem Shalom crossing in the south,
covering approximately 14 kilometers.
• The Egypt-Israel peace agreement
imposes numerical and qualitative restrictions on the deployment of forces on
both sides of the border, including the Egyptian side of the Philadelphia Axis.
• Israel controlled the Philadelphia
Axis as part of its jurisdiction in Zone D until it withdrew from Gaza and
handed it over to the Palestinian Authority in 2005.
• In the same year, a new agreement
was signed to regulate the presence of forces in the axis, allowing for
Egyptian-Israeli security coordination.
• Egypt maintains a limited number of
troops on its side of the axis to prevent infiltration and smuggling.
• Recent reports suggest that Israel
has plans to construct an underground barrier in the Philadelphia Axis area.
It is worth noting that Egyptian sources have
denied Israeli claims about the start of Israeli tank operations from Kerem Abu
Salem towards the Philadelphia Axis on the Gaza-Egypt border.
This strategic area remains a focal point in
the ongoing Israel-Gaza war, with control over the Philadelphia Axis being a
contentious issue in the pursuit of regional stability.
(cairo
news)
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