Egyptian authorities cleared 100 houses and destroyed 12 others on Thursday on the first day of expanding the “buffer zone” between Egypt and the Gaza Strip, described as phase II, army sources said early Friday. Residents “largely” responded to the evacuation process, which proceeded calmly, in recognition of the danger of the tunnels, and the need to combat them, the sources added. The authorities began on Thursday clearing houses located in the border area of North Sinai’s Rafah in preparation for expanding the “buffer zone” between Egypt and the Gaza Strip. A total of 1220 houses sheltering around 2044 families exist in the “buffer area” to be cleared, state-run MENA reported, adding that phase II is expected to be concluded during this week. Egypt’s cabinet issued on October 29, 2014 a decision to clear 500 metres of the border area with Gaza of civilians, vowing to provide compensation for those evicted. The area was doubled to 1,000 meters in November, after discovering some tunnels in the Peninsula over 800 metres long. The cabinet’s evacuation decision allows the forcible seizure of the property of those who refuse to comply. It also excludes those who…
