Hamas beefs up Egypt border force in bid to ease tensions

Hamas begins deploying additional forces on the Gaza border with Egypt, the interior ministry says, in an apparent effort to ease Cairo’s concerns about security.

“National security forces started today to increase the number of its troops and double the security bases along all the southern border with Egypt to be able to control the border better,” spokesman Iyad al-Bazm told AFP.

He says they had established three new bases immediately.

“This is a message that we are concerned with border security and stability,” Bazm says, adding nobody would be allowed “to touch the security of Egypt.”

Security forces were seen setting up about 10 temporary buildings along the border. Bulldozers flatten the land near the frontier in apparent preparation for more temporary structures.

A Palestinian security officer calls the measures “important new security arrangements to reassure the brothers in Egypt the border is secure”.

— AFP