Egyptian army chief inspects security situation on Gaza border, state TV says

Egypt’s army chief of staff Lt. Gen. Ahmed Fathy Khalifa made a surprise visit to the country’s border with the Gaza Strip to inspect the security situation, state television reports, citing the army’s spokesperson.

This week, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu presented the case for a permanent Israeli presence on the Gaza-Egypt border, arguing that it was a necessary step to ensure Hamas cannot rearm and rebuild its control after its war with Israel ends.

Cairo has remained vehemently opposed to Israel establishing any form of control over its border route, and on Tuesday protested that by defining the Philadelphi Corridor as a military zone, it would be violating the countries’ 1978 peace accord.

Defense Minister Yoav Gallant has reportedly called the demand that Israel maintain control of the so-called Philadelphi Corridor separating Egypt and Gaza “an unnecessary constraint that we’ve placed on ourselves.”