The Wall Street Journal reported on Saturday that Israel has notified Egypt of its plans to conduct a military operation to take control of the Gaza Strip's border with Egypt, referring to the Philadelphia Corridor.
The American newspaper published its report under the title "Israel Plans Risky Mission to Take Control of Its Last Uncontrolled Border with Gaza."
The article added that the military operation Israel is planning would be "militarily complex" due to the proximity of the border with Egypt and the region hosting more than a million Palestinian displaced persons.
The information was attributed to unnamed Israeli and Egyptian officials, with the report stating, "Israeli officials informed Egypt that they are planning a military operation on the Gaza side of the border."
According to the news, Egypt assured Israel that it would reinforce barriers on its border with Gaza and install more watchtowers and cameras, but it would not share the recordings with the Israeli side.
The report noted that Cairo has not given final approval to Tel Aviv for the alleged operation.
Days earlier, Yedioth Ahronoth reported that Egypt rejected a request from Israel to secure the Philadelphia Corridor area at its border with the Gaza Strip.
The Israeli newspaper indicated that Ghassan Alian, Coordinator of Government Activities in the Palestinian Territories, visited Cairo last Tuesday at the head of a security delegation.
The newspaper clarified that the purpose of the visit was to discuss security arrangements in the Philadelphia Corridor area.
In a press conference on Saturday evening, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu touched on the Philadelphia Corridor between the Gaza Strip and Egypt, stating, "Without control over the Philadelphia Corridor in Gaza, we cannot eliminate the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas), and we are exploring all options regarding it."
On another note, Egyptian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Ahmed Abu Zeid told a local satellite channel that Egypt fully controls its borders, which are subject to security and legal agreements, and any discussion in this regard is subject to scrutiny and would be addressed with announced positions, without providing further clarification.
At the end of December, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed his desire to control the Philadelphia Corridor bordering Gaza and Egypt.
Netanyahu said that his country wanted to ensure that Gaza does not pose a threat to Israel, adding that the Philadelphia Corridor should be under Israeli control, and that Israel would not accept any other option.
In 2007, Hamas took control of the Gaza Strip, and the Philadelphia Corridor fell under its dominion. Israel imposed a blockade on the Strip, prompting Palestinians to cross the border strip towards Egypt for food, drink, and basic life necessities. Consequently, Egyptian forces secured the Philadelphia area before withdrawing to their positions.
The Philadelphia Corridor area is no longer devoid of Palestinian residents as it was during the Israeli presence in the area; Palestinian homes have extended, approaching the border fence closely, looming right next to it except in the eastern areas near the Rafah crossing and the area close to the sea.
