The Israeli Broadcasting Corporation reported on Tuesday that the Israeli negotiation delegation discussed in Cairo the issue of constructing an underground barrier along the border with the Gaza Strip.
The Corporation noted that Israel “intends to hand over civil control of the Rafah crossing and the Philadelphia Corridor to Egypt, once an agreement regarding Gaza is completed.”
Israel believes that the barrier “will prevent the smuggling of weapons and the digging of tunnels.”
Israeli officials expressed concern that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s recent statements might have damaged the already tense relations with Egypt.
Netanyahu outlined Israel’s red lines in negotiations with Hamas, including preventing the smuggling of weapons to Hamas across the Egyptian border.
Officials stated that Netanyahu’s comments were detrimental to the talks between Israel and the Egyptians and might have already had a negative impact on the chances of reaching a ceasefire agreement in exchange for the release of hostages.
The head of the Israeli Internal Security Service, Ronen Bar, left for Cairo on Monday at the head of a security delegation to hold meetings with Egyptian officials.
