Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel must retain control of the border corridor between the Gaza Strip and Egypt, reported AFP and Reuters, quoted by BTA.
"Achieving war aims runs through the Philadelphia Corridor," he said at a press conference, referring to the strip of land along the border between the Palestinian Territory and Egypt. The issue is a key point of contention in negotiations for a Gaza ceasefire deal related to the release of hostages, with the Palestinian Islamist movement demanding Israel withdraw from that corridor.
Israeli troops discovered dozens of tunnels in the corridor used to smuggle weapons and ammunition into Gaza, Reuters notes.
"The Axis of Evil needs the Philadelphia Corridor and for that reason we must control that corridor," Netanyahu stressed. "That's why Hamas insists we not be there, and that's why I insist we be there."
Netanyahu has warned that if Israel withdraws from the corridor, international pressure will make it difficult to return. He added that control of the corridor was an "existential issue" for Israel.
The Prime Minister emphasized that "control of the Philadelphia Corridor ensures that the hostages will not be smuggled out of Gaza." He assured that he will not give in to the pressure and that Israel will not back down on existential issues for the country.
Netanyahu also commented on the case of the six hostages found dead in Gaza and returned to Israel. He insisted that "the killing of the hostages did not happen because of our decision on the Philadelphia Corridor, but because of Hamas." According to him, the six were executed by Hamas with a "bullet in the back of the head."
Netanyahu's stance on the ongoing talks, which show no sign of a breakthrough, has disappointed allies, including the US. US President Joe Biden said Netanyahu was not doing enough to reach an agreement on the hostages. In response to these comments, Netanyahu said the pressure should be on Hamas, not Israel, especially after the hostages' deaths.
"Now we are asked to show seriousness? Are we being asked to make concessions? What message does this send to Hamas? This tells them: kill more hostages," said the prime minister. He emphasized that he does not believe that Biden or anyone else, who has serious intentions to achieve peace, will ask Israel to make more concessions.
"We already did them. Hamas must make concessions."
Meanwhile, a spokesman for Hamas's armed wing, the Izzedine Al-Qassam Brigades, Abu Ubaydah, said the Palestinian group had issued new instructions to guards on how to deal with the hostages if Israeli forces approached the holding sites. He again blamed Israel for the deaths of the hostages.
"If Israel continues to try to free the hostages through military pressure instead of agreement, the hostages will return home in coffins," threatened the speaker.