Ex-Egyptian official calls for water trenches along Gaza border

A former Egyptian intelligence official called for digging a water barrier on the border with Gaza to combat extremists.

In a televised interview, former Assistant Director of Egyptian Military Intelligence, Naji Shuhud, said terrorist elements operate in the areas close to the Gaza Strip. “Terrorism is trying to change the identity of Sinai.”

He added that there has been a marked decline in terrorist activities in recent months, and terrorist elements have begun to flee into the mountains.

Read: Egypt destroys 3 tunnels between Sinai and Gaza

Adding that the border with Gaza should have a water barrier running along it to stop smuggling and the movement of “terrorist cells”.

Shuhoud emphasised the role of Bedouin tribes in the Sinai Peninsula to the fight against terrorism in the Sinai Penninsula.

The northern Sinai Peninsula has suffered a number of terrorist attacks since Egypt’s first democratically President Mohamed Morsi was ousted in a 2013 military coup.