Jan 8, 2024. Posted by Balkan Periscope - Hellas
An official source denied what media reports claimed about any Egyptian-Israeli cooperation regarding the Salah al-Din/ (Philadelphia) axis, stressing that such reports are completely untrue, al Qahera news channel reported on Monday.
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.
Egypt Today