An Egyptian statement, issued by the Foreign Ministry in Cairo earlier this week, rejects Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's accusations that arms were smuggled into Gaza through the Philadelphi corridor that runs along the Strip's border with Egypt.
The statement said Israel purposely inflated the crisis in Gaza and disrupts any international effort by Egypt, Qatar and the United States, to bring about a cease-fire and hostage release deal.
A careful read of the statement between the lines, shows Egypt no longer believes Netanyahu is focused on a deal to release the hostages. To its surprise, Cairo has discovered that the prime minister was planning to keep IDF forces along the corridor for the long term.
Although Egyptian security officials understand that unlike in their country where the decisions are made by the president and are therefore indisputable Israel works under the rules of democracy, they no longer trust their Israeli counterparts even though they are aware of the disagreement between them and the political leadership. To the officials in Cairo, Netanyahu is the sole decider.
"How can Israel say we are arming Hamas? " the Egyptian statement read. The answer depends on who you are asking. Some in Israel believe tunnels are being resurrected along the Phildelphi corridor. If they were not destroyed, Hamas would be able to rebuild its military might.
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Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu with a map showing smugling along the Philadelphi Corridor
(Photo: GPO)
The Egyptians said they flooded the tunnels and have a 750-strong force of police and troops deployed along the border to prevent smuggling.
Whether Cairo's statement is the sum total of the dispute with Israel, or more steps may be expected, we will see. After harsh words were exchanged between the two neighbors, any other prime minister would likely decide to embrace Egypt as an ally. Egypt insists it is sticking to its peace agreement with Israel and hopes for a miracle and for the day that Netanyahu is no longer in power.