Key Takeaways
- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu denies agreement to withdraw troops from the Gaza-Egypt border as part of a ceasefire deal.
- The Philadelphi Corridor is a key border area between the Gaza Strip and Egypt, critical to Israeli security.
- The U.S.-backed ceasefire proposal aims to secure the southern border and prevent Gaza from posing a security threat to Israel.
Jerusalem: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu denied on Wednesday that he has agreed to withdraw military forces from the Gaza-Egypt border as part of a potential ceasefire deal with Hamas, according to a statement from his office.
The U.S.-backed ceasefire proposal, announced by U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, includes a withdrawal of Israeli troops from the Philadelphi Corridor, a key border area between the Gaza Strip and Egypt. This move is aimed at securing the southern border and preventing Gaza from posing a security threat to Israel.
Both Hamas and Egypt, a critical mediator in the negotiations, reportedly oppose Israeli control over the corridor.
Netanyahu called the reports “incorrect” and emphasised that Israel has not agreed to relinquish control over the area, according to the statement from his office.
“Israel will insist on achieving all of its war objectives as defined by the Security Cabinet, including ensuring that Gaza never again poses a security threat to Israel,” the statement said.
“This requires securing the southern border,” it added.
In a phone call, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and U.S. President Joe Biden discussed advancing the ceasefire-for-hostages deal, as reported by the White House.
Israeli military officials have repeatedly stated that Israel could meet its security needs without maintaining control over the Philadelphi Corridor.
The Israeli Ynet news website quoted anonymous Israeli security officials accusing Netanyahu of hampering efforts to reach an agreement, arguing that his insistence on control over the corridor could jeopardize the deal.
