In September 2005 following Israel's unilateral disengagement plan, the Israel Defence Forces handed over control of the route to the Palestinian National Authority. Since the Battle of Gaza (2007) it has been controlled by Hamas. In January 2008, Palestinian militants destroyed several parts of the wall bordering the town of Rafah. Thousands of Gazans flowed into Egypt in search of food and supplies. In January 2009, citing anonymous Western diplomats, Reuters reported that the Israeli military was considering retaking the Philadelphi Route area in order to prevent Hamas from rearming.