Israeli and Egyptian ceasefire negotiators are currently engaged in discussions regarding the installation of an electronic surveillance system along the Gaza-Egypt border. This initiative could potentially enable Israel to withdraw its troops from the region, paving the way for a ceasefire agreement.
Media reports suggest that one of the key obstacles hindering a potential ceasefire is the issue of whether Israeli forces will remain stationed at the border. Both Egypt, acting as the mediator in the negotiations, and Hamas, the Palestinian organization, oppose the presence of Israeli troops in the area. Israel, however, expresses concern that if its troops were to leave the border zone, known as the Philadelphi corridor, Hamas’ armed wing could exploit tunnels to smuggle weapons and supplies from Egypt into Gaza, thereby re-arming and posing a renewed threat to Israel.
A surveillance system, if the parties involved reach an agreement on its specifics, could potentially facilitate the path toward a ceasefire, although numerous other stumbling blocks still remain. Discussions surrounding a surveillance system on the border have been reported previously, but Reuters is now reporting for the first time that Israel is actively participating in these discussions as part of the current round of talks, with the objective of withdrawing its forces from the border area.
A source familiar with the matter, who requested anonymity, stated that the discussions revolve around “basically sensors that would be built on the Egyptian side of the Philadelphi (corridor).” “The idea is obviously to detect tunnels, to detect any other ways that they’d be trying to smuggle weapons or people into Gaza. Obviously this would be a significant element in a hostage agreement.” When asked if this system would be crucial for a ceasefire deal because it would allow Israeli soldiers to withdraw from the Philadelphi corridor, the source replied, “Correct.”
Two Egyptian security sources, also speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed that Israeli negotiators had proposed a high-tech surveillance system. They indicated that Egypt would not oppose this proposal if it was supported and funded by the United States. However, they emphasized that Egypt would not agree to any arrangement that would alter the border arrangements between Israel and Egypt established in a previous peace treaty.
During a military event on Thursday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that he would only consent to a deal that preserved Israeli control of the Gaza-Egypt border, but he did not clarify whether this meant maintaining a physical troop presence.
Talks are currently underway in Qatar and Egypt, with the backing of Washington, to reach an agreement that would temporarily halt the fighting in Gaza, now in its tenth month, and secure the release of hostages held by Hamas. Israel launched its offensive against the Gaza Strip last October after Hamas terrorists infiltrated southern Israel, resulting in the deaths of 1,200 people and the capture of over 250 hostages, according to Israeli estimates. Since then, Israeli forces have claimed the lives of over 38,000 Palestinians, according to medical authorities in Gaza.
Israeli officials have asserted during the war that Hamas has utilized tunnels running beneath the border into Egypt’s Sinai region to smuggle arms. Egypt, however, maintains that it dismantled tunnel networks leading to Gaza years ago and implemented a buffer zone and border fortifications to prevent smuggling.
Israel’s advance into southern Gaza’s Rafah area in early May led to the closure of the Rafah crossing between Egypt and Gaza, significantly reducing the amount of international aid entering the Palestinian territory. Egypt has expressed its desire for aid deliveries to Gaza to resume but insists that a Palestinian presence must be restored at the Rafah crossing for it to reopen.
