Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said his army must maintain open control of Gaza’s southern border with Egypt – known as the Philadelphia Corridor – digging in on a situation that threatens to derail ceasefire efforts.
Netanyahu’s attitude The corridor – which was captured by Israeli forces in May – has become a major obstacle to reaching a ceasefire deal in Gaza as pressure mounts on the Israeli leader amid mass protests locally demanding a deal that brings the captives home and International outcry puts the number of Palestinians killed by Israeli forces in Gaza near 41,000.
“Gaza must be demilitarized, and this can only happen if The Philadelphia Corridor remain under strong control,” Netanyahu told foreign reporters on Wednesday.
Netanyahu said Israel must maintain control of the corridor to prevent arms smuggling into Gaza, and that Israel would only consider withdrawing from the strategic location if an alternative plan was presented to police in the area.
“Bring me anybody who will actually show us … that they can actually prevent the recurrence of smuggling”, he said. “I don’t see that happening right now. And until that happens, here we are.
When asked by reporters for a timeline for Israel to end its war on Gaza, Netanyahu refused to give one.
“How long can we do this? As long as this victory seems to be achieved. And I think we’re getting a lot closer,” he said.
Netanyahu has faced sharp criticism from many in Israel for his position on the Philadelphia Corridor, including in his own military and security establishment who believe that Israeli troops do not need to remain permanently in Gaza and instead, if necessary, target them. may initiate attacks. Stop arms smuggling.
The US And Egypt, which is mediating ceasefire talks with Qatar, has also demanded a concrete timeline for Israel’s withdrawal from the corridor that runs along its border. The United Arab Emirates, which established formal ties with Israel in the 2020 Abraham Accords – designed to normalize Arab-Israeli relations – has also criticized Israel’s decision to control the corridor on Wednesday.
In a statement released on Thursday, Hamas blamed Netanyahu for the ongoing stalemate in ceasefire talks and accused the Israeli leader of seeking to prolong the war on Gaza.
“Netanyahu’s decision not to withdraw from Salah al-Din [Philadelphi Corridor] The Axis aims to fail to reach an agreement,” Hamas said in a statement.
“We warn against falling into Netanyahu’s traps and tactics, as he uses negotiations to extend the offensive against our people,” Hamas said, adding that Israel must keep to the deal it agreed to earlier this year.
“We do not need new proposals. What is needed now is to put pressure on Netanyahu and his government and bind them to what has been agreed,” the statement read.
During his address to reporters on Wednesday, Netanyahu also falsely claimed that Israel’s ground offensive on Rafah in southern Gaza in May forced the first release of Israeli hostages held by Hamas in Gaza.
That negotiated release, in fact, took place months earlier in November under a week-long cease-fire deal agreed between Israel and Hamas.
The Israel-Hamas ceasefire began on November 24 and was Renewed twice.
Under the agreement, the fight was stopped and Humanitarian aid Entry into Gaza was allowed because Israel freed Palestinian prisoners in exchange for Hamas releasing captives.
By the end of the six-day ceasefire on 30 November, 105 hostages were released by Hamas And 240 Palestinian prisoners were released by Israel.
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