Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vehemently defended his insistence on maintaining control of the strategically important Philadelphi Corridor between Gaza and Egypt, despite pressure from critics to concede on that point to secure the release of hostages held by Hamas.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has fiercely defended his insistence on maintaining control of the strategically important Philadelphi Corridor even as critics urge him to concede on that point to try and ensure a deal to release hostages.
Netanyahu's declaration came during a "heated security cabinet meeting" that further evidenced a divide between the prime minister and the defense minister. Gallant also reportedly accused Netanyahu of imposing his own position on the security establishment.
Netanyahu Defends Control of Philadelphi Corridor Amid Cease-Fire Negotiations
The Philadelphi Corridor runs along the border between Gaza and Egypt and is the area in which the Rafah Crossing exists. Netanyahu has insisted that this corridor remains key to maintaining the country’s defense and safety in a post-Hamas state.
When Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer countered that the prime minister "can do whatever he wants," Gallant sniped back that Netanyahu "can also decide to have all the hostages killed," which prompted backlash from the other ministers, according to the Times of Israel.
Netanyahu Defends Control of Philadelphi Corridor Amid Cease-Fire Negotiations
Netanyahu listed a few examples of previous deals the U.S. and negotiators offered and Israel agreed to, but stressed that each time Hamas stepped away and refused the deals on the table.
He continued to underscore the necessity of including a presence along the Philadelphi Corridor in any ceasefire agreement, or he feared a "recurrence of what happened there before," referring to the Oct. 7 attack.
Netanyahu Defends Control of Philadelphi Corridor Amid Cease-Fire Negotiations
In response to a question about former hostage Aviva Siegel, who told a reporter that Netanyahu was "sentencing her husband" to death by insisting on holding the Philadelphi Corridor, Netanyahu said that control of the corridor is the only reason Hamas have even relented on negotiations and the only way they will continue to concede to Israel's points.
"I'll do everything to make sure that Keith and all the other hostages come back," Netanyahu said. "I'm telling you that if we relieve the pressure, if we get out of the Philadelphi Corridor, we're not going to get the hostages back."
Netanyahu Defends Control of Philadelphi Corridor Amid Cease-Fire Negotiations
"Certainly, we're going to condemn a lot of them to stay there. We could get a few out, they'll give us that, but they'll leave a lot with them," Netanyahu argued. "We won't have the pressure point and something else will happen. We will not be able to come back."
Netanyahu's stance has drawn criticism from some who believe that the hostages' lives should be prioritized over control of the corridor. However, Netanyahu has maintained that the corridor is essential for Israel's security, and that conceding control would only embolden Hamas.
Netanyahu Defends Control of Philadelphi Corridor Amid Cease-Fire Negotiations
The situation remains fluid, and it is unclear whether Netanyahu will be able to secure the release of the hostages while also maintaining control of the Philadelphi Corridor.
