United States President Joe Biden is expected to urge Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to show greater flexibility regarding Israeli military presence along the Philadelphi Corridor on the Egypt-Gaza border to facilitate a ceasefire and hostage agreement, sources told Axios on Wednesday.
The Biden-Netanyahu telephone conversation will take place later today. Namely, the dispute over control of the Philadelphi Corridor emerged during recent negotiations, with Israel seeking to retain control while Hamas demanded a complete Israeli withdrawal from the area.
Netanyahu’s demand was also faced with opposition from Egypt, which is said to be insisting on Israel’s full withdrawal from the corridor and the Rafah border crossing, an insider previously told Al-Qahera News channel. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken also stressed that Washington is against “long-term” Israeli occupation of the Gaza Strip upon his departure from Doha.
Netanyahu has not eased stance on Philadelphi Corridor
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has not changed his position on maintaining military control over the Philadelphi Corridor, an unnamed diplomatic source in the Prime Minister’s Office says. The source denies a claim by US officials who told The Washington Post that Netanyahu offered certain concessions on the matter in a call with US President Joe Biden yesterday. The Philadelphi Corridor runs along the Gaza-Egypt border, where Hamas for years smuggled in arms and weapons components. Netanyahu has insisted that Israel will not withdraw from the route to prevent Hamas from rearming.
NN BlackMask Blog:
Philly Cheesesteak
