Israel builds new infrastructure at Gaza's Philadelphi corridor to establish presence

Israel has started work paving roads and building infrastructure at the Philadelphi corridor, also known as the Salah Al-Din corridor, which separates the Gaza Strip from Egypt.

The area, stretches from the Mediterranean coast to the Karam Abu Salem, or Kerem Shalom border crossing.

Tribal sources living in Rafah told The New Arab’s Arabic language sister publication, Al-Araby Al-Jadeed, that the Israeli army had erected large lighting poles and cranes with surveillance cameras on them.

The sources added that military towers were also built in several areas, while the Egyptian army had repaired damage to the area following Israeli bombardment earlier this year.

The construction in the area comes as Israel continues its war on the besieged Gaza Strip, with the one-year mark just days away.

Last month, satellite images showed Israeli forces paving a new road running the length of the Philadelphi Corridor, the BBC reported.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has demanded that Israel control the area permanently. Hamas has rejected this and as a result ceasefire talks have been stalled.

The images, which include photos and videos, were captured between 26 August and 5 September, and showed tarmac being put down along a section of road, with analysts saying this indicates that Israel has no intention of withdrawing from the area in the coming period.

Further images circulating online showed construction vehicles paving the road.

Israeli air strikes are continuing to target areas adjacent to the Philadelphi corridor and the Rafah crossing, stopping any humanitarian aid from entering the Strip.

Currently, the Karam Abu Salem crossing only operates one or two days a week, with only 15 to 50 trucks of aid at most passing through. Aid agencies have repeatedly warned that this is not nearly enough to meet the needs of Gaza’s population.

Last week, Israeli forces forced 35 trucks of aid to turn back to Egypt without allowing them to unload their cargo, following days of the Karam Abu Salem crossing being closed.

Operation of the corridor and the Rafah border crossing is maintained on the basis of two bilateral agreements between Egypt and Israel. 

Last month, an Israeli government source told Haaretz  that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is deliberately using the issue of the Philadelphi Corridor to avoid a Gaza ceasefire deal and hold on to power.

The unnamed source said the prime minister had decided several weeks ago to avoid a deal which would see the release of captives held by Hamas and maintain control of the Egypt-Gaza border area — a policy that is championed by extreme-right elements of Netanyahu's governing coalition.

The source said that the policy has worked, signified by the media's focus on the issue.

Israel’s war on Gaza has killed at least 41,825 Palestinians since October last year and wounded 96,910 others. The war has plunged the Strip into a deep humanitarian crisis and levelled entire neighbourhoods.