Israeli Security Minister Yoav Galant confirmed that Tel Aviv is holding talks with Cairo to discuss the possibility of establishing an “advanced border obstacle that includes technological means” separating the Gaza Strip from Egyptian territory, in an attempt to thwart alleged arms smuggling operations, while he said that Israel does not “currently” intend to Occupation of the city of Rafah and the Philadelphia axis.

This came in statements issued by Galant during his participation in a special session held by the Foreign and Security Affairs Committee in the Knesset, during which he answered the committee members’ inquiries about the conduct of military operations within the framework of the Israeli war on the Gaza Strip, including the security threats that Israel faces on other fronts.

The Israeli Broadcasting Authority (“Kan 11”) reported that Gallant notified members of the parliamentary committee that Israel is in contact with the Egyptian side to build an “advanced obstacle” along the Philadelphia axis between Gaza and Sinai, “that includes technological means,” in response to “the criticism directed at “To the repeated smuggling of weapons from Egypt to the Gaza Strip.”

In turn, Channel 14 quoted Gallant as saying that the Israeli army “does not currently intend to occupy Rafah or the Philadelphia axis. We will carry out operations in the city, and we will use various means to prevent smuggling operations.” This comes in light of the semi-official Egyptian denial of reports that Israel “requested Egypt evacuated its forces from the Rafah border area, and informed it of its intention to occupy that area.

Israel plans to re-fortify the Philadelphia axis, between the Gaza Strip and Egypt, by building an underground wall, in parallel with the expansion of the Rafah crossing. “According to the plan, the Rafah crossing will be much larger, and will contain multinational supervision, including American and Israeli, to inspect what will enter the Strip.”

Egypt legally strengthened its military presence in the eastern Rafah border area, north of the Sinai Peninsula, after amending the security arrangements agreed upon with Israel in the security annex to the peace treaty concluded between the two countries on March 26, 1979.

The amendments, announced by Egypt and Israel in the first week of November 2021, come based on Annex I of the peace treaty, which allows for amending the agreed-upon security arrangements at the request of one of the parties and with their agreement.

Last Saturday, the Egyptian authorities denied an Israeli report that spoke of a ground military operation carried out by the Israeli occupation army from the Kerem Shalom crossing towards Rafah and the Philadelphia axis on the Gaza Strip border with Egypt, while security sources suggested that Israel would try to implement this plan and move towards the Philadelphia axis. .

Al-Arabi Al-Jadeed newspaper quoted sources in the city of Rafah as saying that the Egyptian army “strengthened its presence on the border with the Gaza Strip, and raised the level of barriers and barriers separating the Strip and Sinai, in the past few days, by placing concrete blocks in the vicinity of watchtowers and various military sites.” In light of the continued Israeli bombing of the area separating the Palestinian and Egyptian sides.”

Local Palestinian sources explained that "Egyptian efforts come at a time when displaced Palestinians and shelter centers are remarkably close to the border, in light of the unprecedented increase in the number of displaced people in the city of Rafah, which has prompted citizens to seek refuge in the border areas, especially west of the city of Rafah, to seek safety."