Egypt to demolish all houses 1km from Gaza border

Egyptian armed forces yesterday started to count houses within one kilometre of the Gaza border ahead of their demolition, witnesses told Al-Jazeera Mubasher Misr.

This is the second stage of the forceful displacement for the Egyptian residents of the border areas near Gaza which aims to set up a buffer zone between Egyptian Sinai and the Palestinian Gaza Strip.

Al-Jazeera reported the witnesses saying that military teams had met members of the Rafah municipal council, including teams that counted the houses in the target area and teams specialised in detonating buildings.

Such measures, the witnesses stressed, came in preparation of the demolition of the houses in the neighbourhoods of Al-Salam, Abu-Rebaa, Al-Ahrash and parts of Al-Sarsouriya.

The houses are expected to be demolished on Sunday.

The armed forces have completed the first stage of house demolition within an area of 500 metres from the Gaza border. The neighbourhoods of Al-Barahmeh, Salahuddin, Al-Jabour and parts of Al-Sarsouriya were razed.

This has led to thousands becoming homeless despite the fact that the army said it would rehome or compensate them.