Egypt has allowed nearly 100 terrorists to cross into Gaza the past several months, and Israeli military and intelligence officials fear that Egypt has adopted a policy of backing Hamas. The terrorists who have entered Gaza include bomb making experts and those who underwent training by Hizbullah terrorists in Iran and Lebanon

Following the expulsion of Jewish residents in Gaza and turning over their communities to the Palestinian Authority (PA) two years ago, Israel signed an agreement by which Egypt would take control of security along the border with Israel, including the Philadelphi smuggling route. Government ministers have expressed widespread disappointment with Egyptian failures to act against terrorism, and Cairo recently has tried to blame Israeli soldiers for collaborating to help terrorists cross the border in exchange for money.