Netanyahu reiterates demand for Israeli control of Philadelphi corridor
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has drawn fire for rejecting calls to soften his demand that Israel retain control of a key buffer zone with Egypt in a press briefing on Monday.
During the briefing, Netanyahu insisted on the "strategic imperative" that Israeli troops remain in the Philadelphi corridor, a buffer zone between Egypt and Gaza that has emerged as a major stumbling block in truce talks.
An unnamed source close to ceasefire negotiations told CNN that Netanyahu has "torpedoed everything in one speech".
Hamas has ruled out any Israeli presence, while Netanyahu has insisted that under a truce agreement, there would be no Israeli withdrawal from the Philadelphi and Netzarim corridors.
"The axis of evil needs the Philadelphi corridor, and for that reason we must control the Philadelphi corridor," he told a news conference in Jerusalem.
New MEE newsletter: Jerusalem Dispatch
Sign up to get the latest insights and analysis on Israel-Palestine, alongside Turkey Unpacked and other MEE newsletters
"Hamas insists for that reason that we not be there, and for that reason, I insist that we be there."
He argued that if Israel were to withdraw from the corridor for the first phase of the deal, it would be impossible for troops to return.
"It’s a question of massive diplomatic pressure that will be applied to us by the entire world: if we leave, we will not return. We will not return," he said.
The briefing comes amid escalating public anger following the recovery of the bodies of six Israeli captives.
On Sunday, hundreds of thousands took to the streets to demand that the Israeli government secure a deal to guarantee the release of the remaining captives, and on Monday, the country's largest trade union declared a nationwide strike.
During his briefing, Netanyahu denied that the six hostages were killed due to the Israeli cabinet’s decision last week to insist on retaining control of the corridor.
"We didn’t manage to extricate them. We were very close. It’s terrible," he said. "But it didn’t happen because of that decision."
Israeli defence minister Yoav Gallant on Sunday called on the cabinet to reverse its decision, saying that securing a hostage deal is top priority.
The Hostage Families Forum decried Netanyahu’s comments as being "full of lies and spins", saying that he had proven "that he does not intend to return the hostages".
Middle East Eye delivers independent and unrivalled coverage and analysis of the Middle East, North Africa and beyond. To learn more about republishing this content and the associated fees, please fill out this form. More about MEE can be found here.
