Netanyahu doubles down on military control over Gaza’s Philadelphi Corridor

Hamas calls for pressure on Netanyahu to stick to agreed ceasefire plan, accuses the Israeli leader of using the Philadelphi Corridor to thwart deal.

Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said his military must retain open-ended control over Gaza’s southern border area with Egypt – known as the Philadelphi Corridor – digging in on a position that threatens to derail ceasefire efforts.

Netanyahu’s stance on the corridor – which was seized by Israeli forces in May – has become the key obstacle to reaching a ceasefire deal in Gaza as pressure mounts on the Israeli leader amid mass protests domestically demanding that a deal be reached that brings captives home and international outrage as the number of Palestinians confirmed killed by Israel’s military in Gaza nears 41,000.

“Gaza must be demilitarised, and this can only happen if the Philadelphi Corridor remains under firm control,” Netanyahu told foreign journalists on Wednesday.

Netanyahu said Israel must maintain control of the corridor to prevent weapons being smuggled 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 anyone 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, we’re there.”