Egypt’s buffer zone expansion hurts Hamas’ arms supplies
Egypt’s decision to expand its buffer zone along its border with the Gaza Strip is a sign that relations with Hamas are no closer to improving.
RAFAH, Gaza Strip — Just when Hamas saw a window of opportunity in improving its relations with Cairo, the Egyptian army made successive moves along the border between the Gaza Strip and the Sinai Peninsula.
Abdel Fattah Harhour, governor of Northern Sinai, declared Dec. 31 that Egypt would start to expand the buffer zone on the borderline with Gaza in Rafah city to 1 kilometer (0.6 miles) deep. The zone would stretch along 5 kilometers (3 miles), which would allow better surveillance of the region bordering the Gaza Strip. Moreover, the use of tunnels to move weapons, or to make way for militants to pass through, would be forbidden.
