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Israel Reports Heavy Concentration of Egyptian Troops in Gaza

March 23, 1955
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The Israel press reported today heavy concentrations of Egyptian troops pouring into the Gaza area. The reports, from foreign sources, said that the equivalent of two brigades of regular troops and a special volunteer commando unit had arrived in the Gaza strip.

These reports were viewed here against a background of almost daily reports from Israel settlements near the border which speak of endless convoys of military trucks filled with Egyptian troops moving north from Rafah. It was also learned that an Egyptian battalion trained by former Nazi officers is among those now stationed in the Gaza strip.

Finally, it was reported today that the Egyptians are planning the construction of a radar station along the border strip. The post and its equipment would be put together from stores left in the Suez Canal zone when the British Army withdrew.

Meanwhile, two incidents along the Israel-Egyptian demarcation line in the Gaza area were reported by the Israel Army. An Israel patrol was fired on near Kissufim last night, and replied in kind. It suffered no casualties. A party of Egyptian infiltrators harvesting crops in an Israel field was discovered by an Israel patrol, but fled across the line into Egyptian territory when the Israelis opened fire. Israel complained to the Mixed Armistice Commission about both incidents.

The Israel-Jordan Mixed Armistice Commission condemned Jordan last night for the murder of an Israel settlement watchman in the Mt. Gilboa area last week-end.

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