Egypt's Prime Minister Ibrahim Mahlab announced Monday, giving instructions to evacuate new areas in Rafah city, North Sinai, to expand the current buffer zone, implemented by Egyptian security forces on the border with Gaza, Media reported. The buffering zone is one-kilometer-wide and 14-kilometer-long, located on the eastern border of North Sinai, created as part of its counter-terrorism procedure in Rafah, evacuating hundreds of homes, to be able to crack down tunnels built on the Egyptian side to smuggle supplies for militants, and terrorists. Mahlab's promised evacuees with alternative housing and reparations, and warned that state would confiscate the property of anyone who resisted the evacuation. Governor of North Sinai Abdel-Fattah Harhour said that the evacuation may include the entire city of Rafah, adding that a new Rafah city would be created, Ahram Online reported. North Sinai has been attacked by Islamist militants since the ouster of president Mohamed Morsi, leaving hundreds dead, some of which are civilians. Egypt's army has also declared killing hundreds of militants in operations in the restive peninsula.
