Gaza begins work on buffer zone along Egypt border

Soldiers keep guard after a 100 meters wide buffer zone was established along the Egyptian border in Gaza City, Gaza on 28 June 2017 [Mustafa Hassona/Anadolu Agency]

Work has begun on a 100-long buffer zone between the southern Gaza border and Egypt, Quds Press reported the Ministry of the Interior saying yesterday.

According to local residents, Palestinian bulldozers had recently started levelling the area along the 14-kilometre Palestinian-Egyptian border, starting from the Mediterranean and ending with Karam Abu Salem Crossing.

Spokesman of the Palestinian Interior Ministry in Gaza, Iyad Al-Bozom, said: “The ministry started a new stage of measures along the borders with Egypt,” noting that these measures include levelling lands, removing barricades, installing CCTV cameras and increasing monitoring towers.

Read: Gaza calls on Egypt to continue its support

This is in line with the recent understandings reached between Hamas and Egypt, he explained, and “this is to send a message to the Egyptian neighbours that we are keen to keep this area safe and free of threats.”

The buffer zone is 100-metre deep located within Gaza’s borders; it will be declared a closed military zone.

Soldiers keep guard after a 100 meters wide buffer zone was established along the Egyptian border in Gaza City, Gaza on 28 June 2017 [Mustafa Hassona/Anadolu Agency]

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