Philadelphi Corridor: Difference between revisions
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| ⚫ | The '''Philadelphi Route''' refers to a narrow strip of land situated along the border between [[Gaza]] and [[Egypt]]. Under the provisions of the Israeli-Egyptian peace treaty of 1978, the [[buffer zone]] was controlled and patrolled by Israeli forces.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/spl/hi/middle_east/04/gazas_tunnels/html/2.stm/In pictures: Searching for Gaza's tunnels]</ref> After the 1995 [[Oslo Accords]], [[Israel]] was allowed to retain the security corridor along the border. One purpose of the Philadelphi Route was to prevent the [[border control|movement of illegal materials]] (including weapons, ammunition and illegal drugs) and people between Egypt and the Gaza Strip. [[Palestinians]] in cooperation with some Egyptians have built [[smuggling tunnels]] under the Philadelphi Route to move these into the Gaza Strip.<ref>[http://www.mfa.gov.il/MFA/Terrorism-+Obstacle+to+Peace/Terror+Groups/Weapon+Smuggling+Tunnels+in+Rafah+May+2004.htm Weapon Smuggling Tunnels in Rafah - Operation Rainbow]</ref> |
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{{Update|date=April 2009}} |
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In September 2005 following [[Israel's unilateral disengagement plan]], the [[Israel Defence Forces]] handed over control of the route to the [[Palestinian National Authority]]. Since the [[Battle of Gaza (2007)]] it has been controlled by [[Governance of the Gaza Strip|Hamas]]. |
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| ⚫ | In January 2008, Palestinian militants [[2008 breach of the Gaza–Egypt border|destroyed several parts of the wall]] bordering the town of [[Rafah]]. Thousands of Gazans flowed into Egypt in search of food and supplies.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7205668.stm|title=Egypt 'won't force Gazans back'|publisher=BBC News|date=23 January 2008|accessdate=2008-01-23}}</ref> In January 2009, citing anonymous Western diplomats, ''Reuters'' reported that the Israeli military was considering retaking the Philadelphi Route area in order to prevent Hamas from rearming.<ref>{{cite news |first=Adam |last=Entous |title=Israel weighs seizing Gaza border corridor-diplomats |work=[[Reuters]] |date=12 January 2009 |url=http://uk.reuters.com/article/middleeastCrisis/idUKLC32967 }}</ref> |
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==Border control and smuggling== |
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[[Image:Smuggling Tunnel.jpg|thumb|right|Smuggling tunnel in Rafah, 2009]] |
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| ⚫ | One purpose of the Philadelphi Route was to prevent the [[border control|movement of illegal materials]] (including weapons, ammunition and illegal drugs) and people between Egypt and the Gaza Strip. [[Palestinians]] in cooperation with some Egyptians have built [[smuggling tunnels]] under the Philadelphi Route to move these into the Gaza Strip.<ref>http://www.mfa.gov.il/MFA/Terrorism-+Obstacle+to+Peace/Terror+Groups/Weapon+Smuggling+Tunnels+in+Rafah+May+2004.htm</ref> |
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Most of the tunnels are based in both sides of [[Rafah]]. Since the outbreak of the [[Al-Aqsa Intifada]], the [[Israeli Defence Forces]] began operating against the tunnels. IDF vehicles, soldiers and outposts were attacked by gunfire and [[anti-tank]] rockets from the southern buildings of Rafah, resulting in the [[House demolition in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict|demolition]] of many border-line houses and the erection of a [[fortification]] system which includes a steel anti-sniper wall and armored outposts (such as "New Termit" and "Hardon"). |
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Many operations against [[smuggling tunnels]] were conducted. Most of the operations were undertaken under heavy fire, prompting the IDF to demolish buildings which were used as firing-positions for Palestinian [[sniper]]s and [[Rocket propelled grenade|RPG]] launchers. Houses in which tunnels were discovered were also demolished. More than 90 tunnels (up to April [[2004]]) have been discovered and destroyed by IDF forces. |
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In May 2004, [[Operation Rainbow]] was undertaken, in part, to destroy the smuggling tunnels and damage the [[terrorism|terrorist]] infrastructure in the area. |
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In January 2009, [[Operation Cast Lead]] has led to IDF's destroying nearly 300 smuggling tunnels. |
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==House demolition== |
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{{seealso|House demolition in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict}} |
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[[Human Rights Watch]] has charged that the IDF used tunnels as a pretext to create a depopulated 'buffer zone' along the Gaza-Egypt border, resulting in the destruction of 1,600 homes by September 2004.[http://www.hrw.org/campaigns/gaza] In a report on house demolitions in Rafah, HRW argues that the IDF should have been able to detect and neutralize tunnels at the point where they cross underneath the border using technologies proven at the [[Korean Demilitarized Zone|Korean DMZ]] and [[U.S.-Mexico border]].<ref>http://hrw.org/reports/2004/rafah1004/6.htm#_Toc84676187</ref> The IDF clarified to HRW that the figure it gives of 90-100 tunnels found so far refers to tunnel ''entrance shafts'' rather than tunnels themselves. HRW described the practice of only destroying the entrance shafts as "puzzlingly ineffective ... [and] inconsistent with the supposed gravity of this longstanding threat." The IDF says that it doesn't have the capability to safely collapse the lateral portions of tunnels. |
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==Israel's unilateral disengagement from Gaza== |
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In September 2005, following [[Israel's unilateral disengagement plan]], the IDF handed over control of the Philadelphi Route to the [[Palestinian National Authority]]. The [[European Union Border Assistance Mission Rafah]] was responsible for monitoring the [[Rafah Border Crossing]] to Egypt. Subsequently following [[Battle of Gaza (2007)]] due to lack of security [[European Union Border Assistance Mission Rafah|EU monitors]] left and [[Rafah Border Crossing]] was closed by Egyptian authorities. |
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==Border breach, 2008== |
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{{main|2008 breach of the Gaza–Egypt border}} |
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On January 23, 2008, Palestinian militants destroyed several parts of the wall dividing Gaza and Egypt in the town of [[Rafah]]. Thousands of Gazans moved across the Philadelphi Route into Egypt, in search of food and supplies. Egyptian President [[Hosni Mubarak]] ordered his troops to allow the Palestinians in due to the crisis, but to verify that they did not bring weapons back.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7205668.stm|title=Egypt 'won't force Gazans back'|publisher=BBC News|date=23 January 2008|accessdate=2008-01-23}}</ref> |
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== See also == |
== See also == |
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<references /> |
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== External links == |
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* [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/spl/hi/middle_east/04/gazas_tunnels/html/1.stm In pictures: Searching for Gaza's tunnels] |
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* [http://www.hrw.org/campaigns/gaza Human Rights Watch report] on house demolitions in Rafah in expanding Philadelphi buffer zone. |
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[[Category:Egypt – Gaza Strip border]] |
[[Category:Egypt – Gaza Strip border]] |
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Revision as of 16:05, 14 January 2010
The Philadelphi Route refers to a narrow strip of land situated along the border between Gaza and Egypt. Under the provisions of the Israeli-Egyptian peace treaty of 1978, the buffer zone was controlled and patrolled by Israeli forces.[1] After the 1995 Oslo Accords, Israel was allowed to retain the security corridor along the border. One purpose of the Philadelphi Route was to prevent the movement of illegal materials (including weapons, ammunition and illegal drugs) and people between Egypt and the Gaza Strip. Palestinians in cooperation with some Egyptians have built smuggling tunnels under the Philadelphi Route to move these into the Gaza Strip.[2]
In September 2005 following Israel's unilateral disengagement plan, the Israel Defence Forces handed over control of the route to the Palestinian National Authority. Since the Battle of Gaza (2007) it has been controlled by Hamas.
In January 2008, Palestinian militants destroyed several parts of the wall bordering the town of Rafah. Thousands of Gazans flowed into Egypt in search of food and supplies.[3] In January 2009, citing anonymous Western diplomats, Reuters reported that the Israeli military was considering retaking the Philadelphi Route area in order to prevent Hamas from rearming.[4]
See also
References
- ^ pictures: Searching for Gaza's tunnels
- ^ Weapon Smuggling Tunnels in Rafah - Operation Rainbow
- ^ "Egypt 'won't force Gazans back'". BBC News. 23 January 2008. Retrieved 2008-01-23.
- ^ Entous, Adam (12 January 2009). "Israel weighs seizing Gaza border corridor-diplomats". Reuters.