By Xinhua
Jerusalem : Egypt has discreetly doubled the number of troops deployed along the border with the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip, local daily Ha’aretz reported on Tuesday, citing Israeli officials.
About 1,500 Egyptian border guards are now along the Gaza border, double the number of 750, which is agreed to be deployed between the Egyptian Sinai and Gaza under the 1979 Israel-Egypt peace accord, the officials said on condition of anonymity.
The reinforcements came shortly after Hamas militants blew holes in the border fence separating Egypt and the Gaza Strip on Jan. 23, allowing hundreds of thousands of Palestinians to pour into the Egyptian side to stock up on daily necessities.
The borders were re-closed early this month following an agreement between Hamas and Egypt.
Egypt has sought formal approval from Israel to double the number of troops at the border to 1,500, the report said.