Netanyahu pushes back as pressure grows to secure Gaza ceasefire deal

Prime minister insists Israeli control of Philadelphi Corridor must remain part of any ceasefire deal.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has pushed back against pressure for him to do more to secure the release of Israelis held captive in the Gaza Strip after 11 months of fighting.

Netanyahu is facing mass protests at home and pressure from United States President Joe Biden after Israeli forces at the weekend recovered the bodies of six captives, including 23-year-old American-Israeli Hersh Goldberg-Polin.

But on Monday he signalled he was in no mood to compromise.

He insisted Israeli control of the Philadelphi Corridor, a narrow band along Gaza’s border with Egypt where Israel contends Hamas smuggles weapons into Gaza, was a necessary part of any ceasefire agreement.

Egypt and Hamas deny such activity and the Palestinian group has rejected any Israeli presence in the area.