Philadelphi agreement signed in Cairo
750 Egyptian Border Guard troops to be deployed along the Philadelphi route, located on the Gaza-Egypt border. Troops will be backed by fighter helicopters and ships, and special IDF unit set to assist Egyptians, foster cooperation between the two countries
Head of the IDF Operations Major General Yisrael Ziv and his Egyptian counterparts signed an agreement according to which 750 Egyptian Border Guard troops will be deployed along the Philadelphi route, located on the Gaza-Egypt border.
The troops will be backed by Israeli fighter helicopters and ships, and a special IDF unit is set to assist the Egyptians and foster cooperation between the two countries.
The agreement was approved by the Knesset Wednesday.
The protocol signed in Cairo marks the conclusion of the recent deliberations between Egypt and Israel on the
deployment, which will see 750 Egyptians placed along the 14-kilometer (about 8.5 miles) road, in conjunction with additional security measures.
The deployment is designed to prevent the smuggling of weapons and ammunition from Egypt into the Palestinian Authority. The Palestinians, for their part, are expected to continue to patrol the area to prevent the digging of weapons-smuggling tunnels.
Navy to prevent weapons-smuggling
The military protocol does not include a deal on the Rafah and Kerem Shalom crossings, and the issue is set to be resolved during government-level deliberations.
Egypt demanded that its citizens be permitted to enter Gaza via the Rafah crossing, while Israel said that the passage would be used only as an exit from Gaza, into Egypt, under Israeli supervision.
According to the agreement, the Egyptians are to complete the deployment of their forces along the Philadelphi route by September 10, allowing the IDF to withdraw from the area.
The newly-built security wall, which was constructed as to contribute to the route’s new defense arrangements, will remain standing.
IDF forces are scheduled to retreat from the Philadelphi route on September 15, after which they will withdraw from the entire Gaza Strip and hand it over to Palestinian control.
Security officials said fears of weapons-smuggling incidents, especially those that may affect the region’s balance of power, still exist.
However, maintaining IDF control over the Philadelphi route after the remaining forces have withdrawn from Gaza is too dangerous, they said, adding that the future operation of a sea and air port by the Palestinians would reduce possible attempts to smuggle weapons in underground tunnels.
Security sources said the navy would be responsible for preventing the smuggling of weapons and ammunition by boat once the Gaza port opens.
