Surprise Visit by Egypt's Army Chief Amid Gaza Tensions

Lieutenant General Ahmed Fathy Khalifa, Egypt's army chief of staff, made an unexpected visit to the Gaza-Egypt border to examine the security situation. This follows Israeli PM Netanyahu's declaration that a ceasefire in Gaza would require guarantees that the area would not support Hamas activities.

Lieutenant General Ahmed Fathy Khalifa, the army chief of staff of Egypt, made an unscheduled visit to the nation's Gaza border to assess security conditions, state television reported, quoting the army's spokesperson.

This visit follows a statement from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who emphasized that any permanent ceasefire in Gaza must ensure the southern Gaza-Egypt border could never serve as a supply line for Hamas. The Philadelphi corridor along Gaza's southern perimeter remains a significant barrier in negotiations aimed at ending hostilities and securing the release of Israeli hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners.

The surprise inspection by the Egyptian military leader underscores the critical nature of border security in the complex geopolitical landscape of the region.

(With inputs from agencies.)