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Why is Egypt building more walls around Gaza?

Although Hamas has taken several measures to boost security on the border with Egypt and prevent any attempt to infiltrate into the Egyptian territory, Egypt continues to build walls and destroy the tunnels.

A Palestinian waves the national flag as he stands near the border wall between Egypt and the Gaza Strip, during a protest calling for an end of Israel blockade to the Gaza Strip, April 10, 2008. . REUTERS/Ibraheem Abu Mustafa (GAZA) - GM1E44B08HW02
A Palestinian waves the national flag as he stands near the border wall between Egypt and the Gaza Strip, during a protest calling for an end to the Israeli blockade on Gaza, April 10, 2008. — REUTERS/Ibraheem Abu Mustafa

Egyptian army spokesman Tamer al-Rifai said May 4 that Egypt has destroyed more than 3,000 tunnels leading to the Gaza Strip since 2015, noting that these tunnels have posed a threat to the Egyptian national security, as they were used for the infiltration of terrorists and the smuggling of arms, ammunition, goods, drugs and vehicles.

Speaking to the Egyptian eXtra News TV channel, Rifai confirmed that the Egyptian government decided in 2015 to set up a buffer zone along the border with Gaza.

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