Israel’s Conditions for Permanent Gaza Ceasefire Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Wednesday that Israel will accept a permanent ceasefire in the Gaza Strip only if it receives the guarantee that the Philadelphi corridor between southern Gaza and Egypt would never be used to supply Hamas. During a press conference in Jerusalem, Netanyahu insisted that unless such guarantees were given, Israeli troops would not withdraw from the area.
Philadelphi Corridor:
A Bone of Contention in Ceasefire Talks The Philadelphi corridor has become the main bone of contention in the present talks between Israel and Hamas. Netanyahu, while repeating that he would not give up the corridor in the first stage of any cease-fire arrangement, slated to run for 42 days, made this admonition because he feels that holding on to the corridor is the only way to prevent a repeat of the entry of Hamas smugglers of weapons and supplies through the border tunnels.Domestic Criticism:
Security Establishment and Hostage Families The position of Netanyahu on the corridor has generated criticism within Israel. The most salient ones come from members of the security establishment who firmly believe that Israel could intervene where need be. The more hurtful domestics are the families of hostages still held in Gaza-their relatives were among the six victims whose bodies were recently retrieved from a tunnel.Israeli Prime Minister
Benjamin Netanyahu, on Wednesday, ruled out agreeing to a permanent ceasefire in the Gaza Strip without assurances about the Philadelphi corridor control. This is the corridor running along the southern border of the Gaza Strip with Egypt that has been one of the main routes of smuggling weapons to Hamas in the Gaza Strip. He made it emphatically clear that any agreement has to be with an assurance that this corridor is not to be used for supplying arms to Hamas.His comments came in a press conference he held in Jerusalem, explaining that the Israeli forces would not leave the Gaza Strip before reaching a permanent solution there. He also refused to withdraw from the corridor in the first phase of the ceasefire, affirming that what Israel needs is real acts of security, not words on paper.
That demand has engendered some controversy among Israeli officials who, according to present reports, seem to realize the corridor could not be fully controlled. The belief of many is that Israel can do limited operations to thwart smuggling, but Netanyahu has held firm in regard to releasing more than 100 hostages still held in Gaza.
The fate of the Philadelphi corridor has also inflamed hostage families, who say Mr Netanyahu is holding military interests above the lives of their loved ones. He remains unmoved: “Control over the Philadelphi corridor is an important component in any settlement for the long-term security of Israel and the freeing of the hostages.”.