Sinai Foundation Reveals Construction of Buffer Zone for Gaza Residents in Sinai

Watan-The “Sinai Foundation for Human Rights” stated today, Wednesday, that it has obtained information from a relevant source indicating that the Egyptian authorities have begun building a secure buffer zone surrounded by walls in eastern Sinai to accommodate Palestinians from Gaza in the event of a mass displacement of the sector’s residents, suggesting that there are undisclosed preparations and that the resettlement plan is being implemented.

The Sinai Foundation is a non-governmental human rights organization, independent and concerned with monitoring and documenting human rights conditions in the Sinai Peninsula, documenting violations and transgressions by the parties involved on the ground.

The human rights foundation quoted two local contractors as saying that construction work undertaken by local companies, commissioned by the “Sons of Sinai” construction company owned by businessman close to the authorities, Ibrahim Al-Arajani, aims to establish a walled area with a height of 7 meters.

This comes after the removal of the rubble of original residents’ homes destroyed during the war on terrorism – as described by Sisi’s media – and the preparation and leveling of the soil, with these works expected to be completed in the shortest possible time, not exceeding ten days.

Isolated area in Sinai with heavy security presence

The source added that this information was circulated on a small scale to prevent its spread, and that the work is being carried out under the supervision of the Engineering Authority of the Armed Forces and in heavy security presence.

In an interview with Mahnd Sabri, a researcher in Sinai affairs and security in Egypt, he said: “The construction work seen in Sinai along the border with Gaza – establishing a reinforced security perimeter around a specific and open area of land – are serious signs of the possibility that Egypt is preparing to accept and allow the displacement of Gaza residents to Sinai, in coordination with Israel and the United States.”

Two days ago, the Sinai Foundation published a report supported by exclusive photos showing the authorities starting construction work at an extremely rapid pace, amid tight security in the border area east of Sinai.

The foundation’s team managed to capture several videos showing soil preparation operations and the removal of rubble from the homes of civilians displaced from the area, as well as the storage of large numbers of cement blocks resembling those used in building the border wall.

The Egyptian human rights organization also observed the construction of a 7-meter-high cement wall starting from a point in the village of “Qous Abu Waad” south of the city of Rafah, heading north towards the Mediterranean Sea parallel to the border with Gaza.

According to the foundation, engineering works began early on Monday, February 12, in the northern limit area between the village of Al-Masoura to the west and a point on the international border line south of the Rafah crossing.

It continued that the southern boundary of these engineering works is between the village of Jouz Abu Raad and a point on the international border line south of the Karm Abu Salem crossing, with the presence of officers affiliated with the Military Intelligence and a number of armored vehicles carrying armed tribal elements affiliated with the “Knights of Al-Heitham” group.

This armed group is affiliated with the Sinai Tribes Union, chaired by businessman Ibrahim Al-Arajani near the “Qous Abu Raad” area south of Rafah city, accompanied by a large number of equipment and excavators along with several local contractors.

Philadelphia Corridor

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has repeatedly announced the Israeli occupation’s intention to control the Philadelphia Corridor, this narrow buffer zone along the border between Egypt and Gaza since the occupation launched its aggression on Gaza following the October 7 attacks by Hamas.

In fear of a massive influx of refugees and its potential consequences, Egypt deployed about 40 tanks and armored personnel carriers in northeastern Sinai during the past few weeks.

Two Egyptian security sources told Reuters that this deployment is part of a series of measures aimed at enhancing security along the Egyptian border with Gaza.