A source who has close knowledge of the ongoing ceasefire negotiations in Cairo stated that Israeli negotiators and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu are at odds over the latter’s demand for Israel to keep the so-called Philadelphi Corridor, located in the southern part of the Gaza Strip.
Two major issues in negotiations supported by Egypt, Qatar and the United States are the Philadelphi Corridor, which runs along the border with Egypt, and the Netzarim Corridor, which crosses the middle of the Gaza Strip.
Netanyahu has stated time and again that Israel will not cede sovereignty over the Philadelphi Corridor because it wishes to stop Hamas from smuggling fighters and weapons over the Egyptian border.
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He also stated that Israel must maintain checkpoints in the Netzarim Corridor to prevent Hamas fighters from moving from southern to northern Gaza.
The source said Netanyahu had agreed to shift one Philadelphi position by a few hundred meters but would retain overall control of the corridor, despite pressure from members of his own negotiating team for more concessions.
“The prime minister insists that the situation there should be maintained, contrary to pressure from certain elements in the negotiating team who are willing to withdraw from there,” the source added.
Israel’s Channel 12 reported this week that Netanyahu had been bitterly critical of the negotiating team, led by David Barnea, the chief of the Mossad intelligence service, for being willing to make too many concessions.
Emily Rose, James Mackenzie and Giles Elgood, with Reuters
