Holding the Line: A Strategy for Securing the Philadelphi Corridor
Although often described as a “hostage” or a “ceasefire” deal, any agreement between Israel and Hamas will have to do much more than merely spell out the logistics for the return of the innocent civilians whom the terrorist group has been holding in Gaza for over 14 months or the conditions that will allow the guns to fall silent, finally.
Any deal acceptable to Israel will also have to include basic security conditions that will ensure Hamas cannot rearm and regain its strength. Crucial to that goal will be security arrangements for the Philadelphi Corridor—the buffer zone along the roughly eight-mile-long Egypt-Gaza border—and the Rafah Crossing—the border’s primary checkpoint—through which Hamas, for years, smuggled weapons and goods.
The security measures needed to prevent a Hamas resurgence, including physical and technological barriers as well as Israeli freedom of action along the Gaza-Egypt border, will necessarily require buy-in from Cairo. Yet, both prior to October 7 and since, Egypt has preferred to turn a blind eye, at best, to smuggling into Gaza rather than publicly cooperate with Israel to stop it. Getting, and keeping, a good deal in Gaza, therefore, will be not just a function of pressuring Hamas to release hostages and accept a ceasefire but also of Egypt’s degree of obstinance or cooperation.
U.S. policy levers and diplomatic leadership will be needed to incentivize Egypt’s cooperation with Israel’s security needs. This will necessitate U.S. diplomatic leadership to ensure Egypt installs and monitors more smuggling barriers and detection and monitoring equipment fitted with advanced technology.
Imperatively, Egypt must also interdict any efforts by tribal militias, Egyptian security personnel, or any other actors to breach the corridor, either above- or below-ground, for smuggling or other terror activity. Finally, Egypt should provide an explicit commitment to permit Israel’s freedom of action on the Gazan side of the Philadelphi Corridor as needed to respond to tunnel smuggling and terror threats.
The United States will have to undertake any and all requisite measures to secure Egypt’s assent to these conditions.
A new Middle East is emerging from the ashes of Iran’s evaporating proxy strategy. If Egypt can be convinced to overcome its concerns, agree to Israel’s needs, and hold the line along the Philadelphi Corridor, both Egypt and Israel will benefit. Doing so would help ensure that the new Middle East is safer and more peaceful—and that Egypt plays an important role in it.
Authors
IDF BG Effie Defrin
Visiting Fellow, Gemunder Center
Former Director, IDF International Cooperation Division
Yoni Tobin
Policy Analyst, Gemunder Center