Hamas is calling for pressure on Netanyahu to respect the agreed ceasefire plan and accuses the Israeli leader of using the Philadelphia Corridor to thwart the agreement.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said his military must maintain open control over Gaza's southern border area with Egypt, known as the Philadelphia Corridor, digging in a position that threatens to derail ceasefire efforts.
Netanyahu's stance on the corridor, which was seized by Israeli forces in May, has emerged as the main obstacle to reaching a ceasefire deal in Gaza as pressure mounts on the Israeli leader amid mass nationwide protests demanding a deal to bring the captives home and international outrage as the number of Palestinians confirmed killed by Israel's military in Gaza nears 41,000.
“Gaza must be demilitarized, and this can only happen if the Philadelphia Corridor remains under firm control,” Netanyahu told foreign reporters on Wednesday.
Netanyahu said Israel must maintain control of the corridor to prevent weapons smuggling into Gaza and that Israel would only consider withdrawing from the strategic location when presented with an alternative plan to police the area.
“Bring me someone who can actually show us … that they can actually prevent the recurrence” of smuggling, he said. “I don’t see that happening now. And until that happens, we’re going to be there.”
Asked by reporters for a timetable for Israel's end to the war on Gaza, Netanyahu refused to provide one.
“How long can we do this? As long as it takes to achieve this victory. And I think we are getting much closer,” he said.
Netanyahu has faced harsh criticism from many in Israel for his position on the Philadelphia Corridor, including from within his own military and security establishment, who believe that Israeli troops do not need to be permanently stationed in Gaza and could instead launch targeted strikes if necessary to stop arms smuggling.
Egypt, which is mediating ceasefire negotiations alongside the United States and Qatar, has also demanded a concrete timetable 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 — also criticized Israel’s decision to control the corridor on Wednesday.
In a statement released Thursday, Hamas blamed Netanyahu for the current stalemate in ceasefire negotiations and accused the Israeli leader of wanting to prolong the war in Gaza.
“Netanyahu's decision not to withdraw from Saladin [Philadelphi Corridor] “The axis is seeking to prevent an agreement from being reached,” Hamas said in the statement.
“We warn against falling into Netanyahu's trap and tricks as he uses negotiations to prolong the aggression against our people,” Hamas said, adding that Israel must abide by an agreement reached earlier this year.
“We do not need new proposals. What is needed now is to put pressure on Netanyahu and his government and force them to comply with what was agreed,” the statement said.
During his address to reporters on Wednesday, Netanyahu also incorrectly claimed that Israel's ground invasion of Rafah in southern Gaza in May forced the first release of Israeli captives held by Hamas in Gaza.
In fact, that negotiated release took place months earlier, in November, under a week-long ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas.
The truce between Israel and Hamas began on November 24 and was renewed twice.
Under the deal, fighting was halted and humanitarian aid was allowed into Gaza, while Hamas freed captives in exchange for Israel releasing Palestinian prisoners.
By the end of the six-day truce on November 30, Hamas had freed 105 captives and Israel had freed 240 Palestinian prisoners.
