Hamas creates no-go security zone on border with Egypt

Palestinian Hamas movement, which rules Gaza, has begun building a no-go security zone on the strip's border with Egypt, saying "Egypt's national security is Palestine's national security".


Tawfiq Abu Niem, Gaza's deputy interior minister, said on Wednesday that the aim of the buffer zone is "to control the borderline area and boost security" on the frontier with Egypt.

The measures are part of an agreement reached with Egypt, Abu Niem said without elaborating.

"We are sending a message to Egypt that we are committed to fully ensuring the borders," he said. "The plan includes levelling a 12km area close to the borderline with Egypt, placing lookout towers and cameras as well as lightening the whole area."

He said the closed military zone would be 12km long and 100m wide, aiming "to prevent smuggling drugs and infiltration of people from and to Egypt".

Bulldozers were expected to demolish a series of homes and structures along the border.
 [aljazeera.com]
28/6/17
-