As part of any potential lasting ceasefire agreement, he told foreign media in Jerusalem that he is “open” to exploring alternatives to the Israeli military’s presence at the Gaza-Egypt border, but he did not see it occurring.
According to Mr. Netanyahu, in order to stop the smuggling of weapons and maybe Israeli hostages across the border, Israeli troops must stay in this buffer zone.
In a statement obtained by Reuters, Hamas said that Mr. Netanyahu’s refusal to leave the Philadelphia corridor is an effort to undermine the cease-fire deal.
A durable ceasefire, according to Mr. Netanyahu, has to include “a situation where the Philadelphi corridor cannot be perforated.” He stated as much earlier on Wednesday.
We’re willing to examine it, he said, if someone could demonstrate “that they can actually prevent the recurrence of what happened there before, not on paper, not in words, not in a slide, but on the ground, day after day, week after week, month after month.”
