Why Israel Seized the Philadelphia Corridor
Israel's announcement on Wednesday that its forces have gained control over a strip of land running along the southern border of the Gaza Strip suggests that one of the objectives of the country's war against Hamas has been achieved, but portends further isolation for Palestinians in the enclave.Here's a look at the importance of the border strip to Israel, the Palestinians and Egypt:What is the border strip?It is a land about 100 meters wide that extends about eight miles from Israel's border to the Mediterranean. The new border, which divided the city of Rafah, was established under the 1979 Egypt-Israel peace treaty. Gaza lies to the northeast, while Egypt lies to the southwest. Egyptian border guards guard the territory under an agreement with Israel made in 2005, whe...