Egypt denies Israeli claim that tunnels run under border with Gaza

Egypt has denied Israeli claims that there are active tunnels running under its border with the Gaza Strip, enabling weapons or people to be smuggled, Israeli media reported citing a source involved in Israel’s ceasefire talks with Cairo.

The Israeli army said they had located several tunnels on the Gaza side of the border in recent weeks, however, Egypt reasserted that all tunnels have been blocked on the Egyptian side, the source said.

According to the source, Egypt blocked the tunnels six years ago, as part of a comprehensive effort in stopping smuggling.

Israeli media said the denial from Egypt contradicts Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s assessment, as well as assessments made by other Israeli officials.

"There’s always a possibility that smuggling is taking place through tunnels that neither Egypt nor Israel know about," the source said.

"But Netanyahu’s demand for a permanent presence in the corridor under these circumstances raises questions," the source continued.

The source added that the arms reportedly found in Gaza in recent months had appeared to be manufactured in Gaza or smuggled in through the Rafah border crossing with Egypt, or through other means.

"This may indicate that Israel underestimated Hamas’ ability to manufacture its own ammunition prior to October 7," they said.

As ceasefire negotiations continue, Netanyahu insists that he won’t allow foreign forces to replace Israeli troops in the Philadelphi Corridor over concerns smuggling will occur there.

Egypt has previously rejected and denied claims that a massive smuggling of arms took place through the corridor in January.

The head of Egypt’s State Information Service, Diaa Rashwan, said Egypt had been working for a decade to stop the smuggling of arms and people across its border with Gaza.

Egyptian officials presented to Hamas on Saturday the latest Israeli proposal for the status of the border between Gaza and Egypt.

Egyptian officials told the Hamas delegation Cairo rejects any permanent Israeli army presence in the Philadelphi corridor and that Egypt's position on this cannot be reversed.

They said the Israeli army's presence in the strategic border strip was "temporary" until the end of the military operations in Gaza.

Egyptian officials are, however, unsure whether Hamas will accept the new proposal.

The Philadelphi Corridor was declared a buffer zone as part of Egypt’s controversial 1979 peace treaty with Israel, with the Israelis arguing that it was necessary to stop weapons and other materials from reaching Palestinians inside Gaza and stop Palestinians from getting out.

In 2005, Israel withdrew its military forces from Gaza, meaning that Egypt became the sole party responsible for policing the corridor. An agreement struck with Israel allowed Egypt to maintain 750 troops and heavy weapons to patrol the area, with responsibility for Gaza coming under the remit of the Palestinian Authority (PA).

However, in 2007, after winning elections and fighting a bitter conflict with President Mahmoud Abbas's Fatah movement, Hamas took full control of Gaza, and the situation changed.

Israel imposed a crippling blockade on the Palestinian enclave, with the most basic items often being banned. This meant the corridor became Gaza’s last remaining link with the outside world, with Israel maintaining a land, air and sea blockade on the strip from all sides.

Under the Camp David Accords, the Philadelphi Corridor was declared a demilitarised zone, with Israel’s military moving into the zone violating the treaty and irreversibly shifting dynamics in the region.