Netanyahu snubs critics, says Israel holding Philadelphi key to free hostages
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu indicated that the parties are far away from reaching a deal, reiterating that Israel will not agree to fully withdraw its forces from the Philadelphi Corridor during the first phase of a truce with Hamas.
The issue of control over the Philadelphi Corridor, along the border separating the Gaza Strip and Egypt, is not the only obstacle in Israel reaching a deal with Hamas that would see a cease-fire in Gaza and the release of hostages, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Wednesday.
Addressing the foreign press, Netanyahu said, "We have the Philadelphi Corridor. We have the ratio of hostages to terrorists who are released. Do we have veto power over these terrorists, because some of them committed the worst atrocities you can imagine? Should they come back to Judaea and Samaria [West Bank], or can we take them out of the country, and so on?," he said, referring to the part of the deal that would involve the release of Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails, including those charged with murder. He added, "The whole thing [release deal] has not been resolved."
Netanyahu stressed that the Israeli military will not fully withdraw from the Philadelphi Corridor in the first phase of a potential three-phase deal but would remain there in a limited capacity to prevent the smuggling of arms into the Gaza Strip. A full withdrawal of the Israeli military would be possible during the second phase of the deal, said the prime minister, if an agreement is reached over parameters that would guarantee Israel’s security.
If such a plan for controlling the Philadelphi Corridor exists, said Netanyahu, "We're open to considering it. But I don't see that happening . . . and until that happens, we're there."
