IDF Exposes Secret Egypt-Gaza Bridge in Rafah Operation

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) operation in Rafah revealed the existence of a secret land bridge between Egypt and Gaza that Hamas could use to import anything without international oversight. Jerusalem Post.

Former intelligence officer Lt. Col. Amit Yagor (ret.) I have written:

[Egypt] It enabled an entire smuggling industry of tunnels from its own territory into the territory of the Gaza Strip, in effect constituting the organization’s “oxygen pipe” and being the main source of illegal weapons, ammunition and prohibited substances, enabling the establishment of “Deep Gaza”.

Of note was the existence of an elevated road between Egypt and Gaza. The Salah al-Din crossing was used to move goods from Egypt to the Gaza Strip without Israeli or international oversight. It was not widely publicized and operated in addition to the well-known Rafah crossing.

Apparently, the tunnel/goods/crossing economy and the industries that developed on Egyptian territory contributed considerably to the tranquility that Egypt sought to maintain in the Sinai, and therefore Egypt had an interest in not abolishing it, as it knew how to do so in many other cases.

Egypt Opposed Egypt denied the Israeli operation in Rafah, as did the Biden administration. It is now clear that Egypt wanted to cover up its role in Hamas arms smuggling and importation. The Biden administration may have wanted to maintain the image of Egypt as an ally of the United States.