Egypt tightens security measures along border with Israel to prevent attacks – report

Egypt has taken steps to tighten measures along its shared border with Israel to prevent its military recruits stationed there from attempting to launch attacks on Israeli forces, the Qatari-owned Al-Araby Al-Jadeed news outlet reports.

According to the report, recruits in the Egyptian border forces have undergone a more thorough training period since the outbreak of Israel’s war with Hamas in Gaza, in which they are educated on the history of the Israel-Egypt border, which spans some 240 kilometers in length, and on the security agreements between the two countries.

As part of the effort to mitigate any attempted attacks on Israeli troops, Egyptian security forces stationed at the border are not allowed to use smartphones for the duration of their deployment, the report states, ensuring that they do not follow news about the ongoing war in Gaza for fear it could incite them into planning an attack.

In addition, at the Nitzana Border Crossing, where Israeli and Egyptian forces are stationed on their respective sides, the Egyptian security guards are not armed, and plainclothes officials are present to ensure that no disturbances occur, the report adds.