His forces took control of the scrubland and sand dunes known as the Philadelphi corridor in May, and since then, it has emerged as a major roadblock in negotiations to try to broker a truce with Hamas in Gaza.
The Israeli prime minister has insisted on keeping his troops in charge of the passage, where they have found scores of tunnels that, according to officials, have been used to provide Hamas with munitions and weapons.
He informed the media that without control of the corridor, his country’s three “war goals”—destroying Hamas, freeing all hostages, and guaranteeing Gaza never again poses a threat to Israel—could not be accomplished.
In the first phase of a truce agreement, which is anticipated to last 42 days, Mr. Netanyahu reiterated his categorical opposition of a retreat from the Philadelphia corridor, claiming that pressure from other countries would make a return practically impossible.
Israel would next require assurances that whoever controlled Gaza after the conflict would be able to stop the corridor from being used as a route for smuggling weapons and supplies for Hamas in order for an agreement on a lasting truce to be reached.
