Israel’s military has said it has taken control of the strategically important buffer zone along the Gaza-Egypt border known as the Philadelphi Corridor, meaning it now controls Gaza’s entire land border.
A spokesman for the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said about 20 tunnels used by Hamas to smuggle weapons into Gaza had been found within the zone.
IDF spokesman Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari who confirmed the development described the corridor as a “lifeline” for Hamas, through which the group “regularly smuggled weapons into the Gaza Strip.
Meanwhile, U.S secretary of state, Anthony Blinken says investigations are ongoing to confirm if U.S made GBU-39 bombs were used in Gaza.
Tensions between Egypt and Israel have heightened since Israeli forces took control of the Gazan side of the Rafah crossing point three weeks ago as part of their offensive against Hamas.
