The senior official also refuted the claims circulating about an approaching agreement between Egypt and Israel regarding Rafah and the Philadelphi Corridor, denying the installation of any technological devices in those areas.

On Thursday, Israel's Army Radio reported that Israel and Egypt are close to an agreement on postwar control of the Philadelphi Corridor.

Citing anonymous officials, the report noted that Israel has vowed not to act militarily in the area of the Gaza city of Rafah, near the Egyptian border, before the Palestinian population staying there is given "adequate time to evacuate to other parts of the strip."

Late in January, Head of Egypt's State Information Service (SIS) Diaa Rashwan said Israel's insistence on promoting such lies is an attempt to legitimize its reoccupation of the Philadelphi Corridor, in violation of agreements and security protocols signed between Israel and Egypt.

He noted that the reoccupation of this corridor by Israel would pose a grave threat to Egyptian-Israeli relations.

Rashwan added that the Israeli claims, alleging smuggling of weapons, explosives, ammunition, and components into the Gaza Strip from the Egyptian territory --through various means, including tunnels -- do not serve the Egyptian-Israeli peace treaty respected by Egypt.

The SIS head called on the Israeli side to show respect for the treaty and refrain from making statements that would strain bilateral relations amid the current inflammatory conditions.

The 14-kilometre-long and 100-metre-wide Philadelphi corridor is a buffer zone on the Egypt-Gaza border extending from the Mediterranean Sea in the north to the Karm Abu Salem crossing in the south. It is guaranteed by the 1979 Egypt–Israel peace treaty.

Egyptian security forces have patrolled the corridor after Israel pulled out of Gaza in 2005.