In a recent development, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) carried out a series of airstrikes in the Rafah area, particularly near the Philadelphi Corridor along Gaza's border with Egypt. Media outlets in Gaza reported that the strikes were aimed at Hamas underground infrastructure located beneath the corridor.

The IDF statement issued on Saturday night confirmed the strikes, revealing that they successfully targeted Islamic Jihad operatives and terrorist infrastructure. It also emphasized that no damage was caused to the nearby hospital, reassuring the safety of civilians in the area.

The Philadelphi Corridor, a contentious area between Gaza and Egypt, has been a major cause of dispute between Jerusalem and Cairo. The main agreement reached was that Israel would have the authority to operate in the Rafah area, but only after a significant evacuation of the approximately one million Gazan residents who currently reside there.

The smuggling of arms from Egypt into Gaza has been a long-standing concern for Israel, particularly through the Philadelphi Corridor. In 2005, the Israeli government approved the withdrawal of IDF forces from the corridor, handing over control to the Palestinian Authority. However, this transition led to an increase in arms smuggling, with Hamas gaining access to illegal weapons.

Reports have recently surfaced regarding the aid of an unnamed Arab Gulf state in preventing arms smuggling. The Gulf state has agreed to finance the construction of an underground wall to impede traffickers from smuggling illegal arms through tunnels from Egypt into Gaza. However, it is conditioned upon obtaining full Egyptian approval for the entire process.

The recent IDF strikes near the Philadelphi Corridor reaffirm Israel's commitment to maintaining its security and preventing any further escalation in the region. As tensions between Israel and Hamas continue, it remains to be seen how the Gulf state's assistance in curbing arms smuggling will unfold and whether it will effectively contribute to the stability of the area.

The situation in the Gaza Strip remains highly complex, and the IDF's operations in Rafah underscore the ongoing challenges faced by Israel in maintaining a secure border.