Egyptian Military Builds Buffer Zone With Gaza

Egyptian security forces destroyed at least 20 houses along Gaza border. The army ordered people to evacuate their houses and then they knock them down, leaving residents to look for a place to stay, with relatives or friends. Residents on the Egyptian side of the border said that at least 20 homes had been torn down.

Egyptian forces have tightened the control of Rafah, a town that straddles the Egypt-Gaza border, as well as the waters at the border to prevent any transport of merchandise into Gaza by sea. They expelled dozens of families from their houses on the Egyptian side near the Rafah border in the context of the implementation of an empty zone along the border with Gaza. Egyptian official said that they had destroyed over 350 smuggling tunnels since the army had deposed Islamist President Mohamed Morsi in early July of this year.

Hamas spokesman said: “We reject idea of buffer zone. Buffer zones should not be built between brothers”.

Egypt’s military stepped up a campaign against Islamist militants in the Sinai Peninsula, bordering Gaza, after deposing Islamist president Mohamed Morsi following mass unrest, and has accused Gaza Palestinians of supporting the militants

The crackdown, before and after Morsi’s ouster, has included closures of tunnels from Gaza the military believes have been used to move weapons, gunmen and goods across the border.

Now, residents on the Egyptian side of the border say, the armed forces have also begun to tear down homes, apparently suspecting they are being used to hide tunnel entrances or provide cover for other militant activity.