Tenuous Peace: Israel- Egypt
The Fragile Relationship Between Egypt and Israel Amid Gaza Conflict
The recent escalation in Gaza has seen Israeli forces capturing a buffer zone along the Gaza Strip’s border with Egypt. This strategic move grants Israel operational control over the “Philadelphi Corridor,” a critical area previously used by Hamas for smuggling weapons into Gaza. Despite the International Court of Justice (ICJ) ordering a cessation of attacks, Israeli military operations continue in Rafah, impacting the lives of the civilians taking refuge there.
The Israeli military on Wednesday announced that it seized the buffer zone along the Gaza-Egypt border, giving Israel effective control over the Palestinian territory’s entire land border amid its offensive in Rafah. According to IDF spokesperson Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari, Israeli forces have gained “operational control” over the Philadelphi Corridor, using the military’s code name for the 14 km-long corridor. Hagari described the corridor as a “lifeline” for Hamas, through which the group “regularly smuggled weapons into the Gaza Strip.” He also mentioned that troops are “investigating and neutralizing” tunnels found in the area.
However, Egyptian sources have denied the existence of these tunnels, accusing Israel of using these allegations to justify its military operations in Rafah and prolonging the conflict for political purposes. Egypt has previously claimed to have destroyed cross-border tunnels, making any weapons smuggling impossible. A high-level Egyptian source, quoted by Al-Qahera News, stated that Israel is using these allegations to justify continuing the operation on the Palestinian city of Rafah and prolonging the war for political purposes. The situation has escalated tensions between Israel and Egypt, especially following an incident where an Egyptian soldier was killed near Rafah. Egypt, a staunch supporter of the Palestinians, has condemned Israel’s military actions and the resulting civilian casualties. Despite maintaining a blockade on its border with Gaza similar to Israel’s since Hamas took power in 2006, Egypt has continued to engage in mediation efforts to facilitate a ceasefire and the release of hostages held by Hamas.
Israel’s National Security Advisor Tzachi Hanegbi said the war in Gaza would continue throughout 2024 at least. The Jewish state has earlier said the fighting will not end until it “dismantled” all Hamas infrastructures and rejected an offer that all hostages will be released in exchange for Palestinian prisoners. The humanitarian situation in Gaza remains dire, with calls for international intervention to open the Rafah crossing for aid, especially to treat the injured amidst the ongoing war. Palestinian Health Minister Majed Abu Raman called on the US to pressure Israel to open the Rafah crossing for humanitarian aid, stating that people injured in Gaza were dying due to a lack of treatment. This situation reveals the fragility of the peace deal between Egypt and Israel. Officially, Egypt and Israel are at peace, but beneath the surface, a diplomatic dispute has been brewing for weeks. Israel pushed ahead with its assault on Rafah — the area of southern Gaza bordering Egypt — despite Cairo’s many objections. The cross-border exchange of fire that killed at least one member of the Egyptian security forces this week has only worsened already tense relations. Both countries say the incident won’t impact the peace deal signed over four decades ago. However, with the ongoing war in Gaza, the stability of this peace is in question. The recent conflict and Israel’s assault on Rafah have significantly strained the relationship between the two nations.
Expert Insights:
- H A Hellyer, a non-resident scholar at the Middle East Programme of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, emphasizes the geopolitical dynamics and the balancing act Egypt must perform between maintaining peace with Israel and supporting Palestinian rights.
- Uri Dromi, a journalist and former spokesperson for the Israeli government during the Oslo peace process, highlights the strategic importance of Israel’s actions in Gaza and the necessity of maintaining security, while also acknowledging the delicate nature of the peace with Egypt.
- Hussein Haridi, a veteran Egyptian diplomat involved in the peace agreement process, offers insights into the historical resilience of the peace treaty and the current diplomatic challenges, stressing the importance of dialogue and restraint from both sides to prevent further deterioration of relations.
While the official peace deal between Egypt and Israel remains intact, the current conflict in Gaza has revealed significant underlying tensions. The future of their relationship will depend heavily on how the situation in Gaza evolves and the ability of both nations to navigate the complex political landscape. The peace treaty, established by the 1979 Camp David Accords, has endured various challenges, but the current conflict is one of the most severe tests in recent years. The underlying tensions suggest a more precarious situation, requiring careful diplomacy and international intervention to maintain stability and prevent further escalation.
