Egypt's Buffer-Zone Move Shocks Hamas
Egypt's decision to establish a buffer zone on the Gaza border has raised Palestinian fears of a possible armed confrontation.
The Palestinians are wary about the Egyptian army’s movements on Gaza’s southern border. There have been reports that Egyptian military vehicles are doing more than just demolishing the tunnels and closing the smuggling routes, as a number of Egyptian officials have stated. The Palestinians, Hamas in particular, have become very concerned about reports that Egypt may set up a buffer zone along the Gaza-Egypt border.
Information on that subject is scarce, but Al-Monitor learned during a meeting with a security official in Gaza that the Egyptian army will establish a 500-meter buffer zone along the Gaza border to prevent smuggling and to control the tunnels.
Al-Monitor toured the Egyptian-Gaza border and saw the army clearing everything 250-300 meters from the border. One could easily see Egypt’s military movements and hear it blowing up houses suspected of hiding tunnels.
An open area
