The Egyptian Chief of Staff arrived today (Thursday) for an inspection of the Gaza-Egypt border to “review security protocols,” according to Egyptian sources. The visit comes amid Egyptian criticism of Israel’s insistence on maintaining control over the Philadelphi Route, at least during the initial phase of a hostage deal.
On Monday, Prime Minister Netanyahu held a press conference in which he used a map to explain that Israel has a clear security interest in maintaining a military presence on the Philadelphi Route, as it has served and will continue to serve as a key smuggling route for weapons and ammunition from Gaza. He emphasized that the route is a significant bargaining chip in the ongoing negotiations for the release of hostages, warning that without military control, hostages could be moved out of Gaza to Sinai and eventually to Iran.
The Qatari newspaper Al-Jadeed reported that Cairo expressed dissatisfaction with the map Netanyahu used during his Monday statement, claiming that presenting the route as a military zone contradicts the Camp David Accords. Egypt, meanwhile, denied Israeli claims of turning a blind eye to large-scale arms and terrorist equipment smuggling through the route on Egyptian soil.
Other Arab nations have also reacted angrily to Israel’s insistence on maintaining control over the route. The UAE’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement of solidarity with Egypt yesterday (Wednesday), following Israeli accusations about the Philadelphi Route. The accusations center on Israel’s claims that for years, the route allowed significant weapon smuggling from Sinai to Gaza, which effectively acted as Hamas’ lifeline.
These accusations are denied by Egypt, which has full Arab backing. Egypt argues that an Israeli presence at the Rafah crossing and the Philadelphi Route would violate the peace treaty signed between Egypt and Israel in 1978.
This is not the first time since the war began that Egypt has opposed IDF activity along the Gaza-Egypt border. On October 23, at the height of Israel’s existential war, Egypt issued strong warnings to the Israeli government against conducting military operations in the area, citing the Camp David Accords. Once again, Egypt did not acknowledge its role in facilitating the buildup of terrorist groups in Gaza.
Amid the spread of Arab criticism to other parts of the world, and in light of criticism from Israeli political figures such as Gadi Eisenkot, Yair Lapid, and Benny Gantz, Netanyahu held a press conference for foreign media yesterday. In the statement, he reiterated the strategic importance of the route for Israel’s security and its necessity for improving Israel’s negotiating position for the release of hostages.
After the statement, an Egyptian official responded, continuing to deny Egypt’s responsibility for the smuggling: “Netanyahu is spreading lies to cover up his failure in Gaza. His claims about Egyptian weapons smuggling are just another excuse to justify his government’s failure to control smuggling through the Kerem Shalom crossing.”
