Israel declares border area with Egypt a “closed military zone”

Channel 13 reported that Israeli War Minister Yisrael Katz instructed the military command to declare an area adjacent to the Egypt-Israel border a closed military zone and to revise the regulations on engagement and response in accordance with the new security conditions.

According to the report, Katz reached an agreement with the head of the internal security service (Shin Bet) to formally classify the smuggling of weapons and military equipment via drones as a “terrorist threat.”

Katz stated: “We are declaring war — anyone who enters the restricted zone will be harmed.”

The decision comes amid growing Israeli concerns over the increasing use of armed groups and smuggling networks to transport weapons — including through drones — across the southern border in recent months. Israeli military officials say halting the flow of arms is vital for the security of the southern frontier and for preventing the strengthening of armed groups in the border regions.

The revision of the rules of engagement could authorize more targeted firing, greater deployment of ground and air units, and the use of electronic defense systems along the border.

Legal and military experts in Tel Aviv have warned about the implications of the move, saying that broadly redefining what constitutes a “terrorist threat” could heighten tensions and increase the risk of new border clashes.