Israel breaks ceasefire agreement, refuses to exit Philadelphi Corridor on Egyptian border

First Post
Thu, 27 Feb 2025 21:36 UTC

© File Image/Reuters

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stands before a map of the Gaza Strip, telling viewers that Israel must retain control over the "Philadelphi corridor," a strategic area along the territory's border with Egypt, during a news conference in Jerusalem, September 2, 2024. Hebrew onscreen reads, "Philadelphi corridor under Israeli military control".

Israel will not withdraw its forces from the Gaza-Egypt border as would be necessary under a potential second phase of a ceasefire with Hamas, according to a CNN report, citing an Israeli source.

"We will not exit the Philadelphi Corridor," CNN quoted a source as saying, referring to the 14 km strip along the border.

"We will not allow Hamas murderers to roam again with trucks and rifles on our borders, and we will not let them strengthen themselves again through smuggling," added the source.

The announcement comes just days before the first phase of the Israel-Hamas hostage ceasefire agreement is set to expire, and only hours after Hamas released the final hostages scheduled for release under the phase.

Comment: So Bibi got enough concessions to tamp down Israeli criticism. On with the ethnic cleansing.

Talks to extend the 42-day ceasefire between Israel and Hamas were expected to start over three weeks ago, but it's unclear if they have begun.

The current phase, which has seen 38 hostages released by Hamas and thousands of Palestinian prisoners freed by Israel, expires on Saturday.

The Israeli military has controlled the corridor near the Egyptian border since May, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu asserting its importance for Israel's security.

The proposed second phase would require Israel to withdraw all forces from Gaza, including the border area, while Hamas would need to release all living hostages in exchange for additional Palestinian prisoners.

After handing over the final four deceased hostages on Thursday, Hamas reaffirmed its commitment to initiate discussions on the second phase.

"Any attempts by Netanyahu and his government to backtrack on the agreement and obstruct it will only lead to more suffering for the prisoners and their families," CNN quoted Hamas as saying.

Netanyahu plans to hold security discussions on Thursday, "at the end of which a decision will be made whether to send a delegation to continue negotiations on the second stage - and what mandate to give the delegation," CNN quoted the source as saying.

Netanyahu would prefer to extend the first phase of the ceasefire and secure the release of more hostages without withdrawing from Gaza, an Israeli source familiar with the matter told CNN on Tuesday. The government is aiming to prolong this phase "as much as possible" in hopes of achieving that goal.

Meanwhile, in Washington, US President Donald Trump's top envoy to the Middle East said Israeli representatives were en route to talks on the next phase of the ceasefire.

"We're making a lot of progress. Israel is sending a team right now as we speak," AFP quoted Steve Witkoff as saying at an event for the American Jewish Committee.

"It's either going to be in Doha or in Cairo, where negotiations will begin again with the Egyptians and the Qataris," he added.

Israel has yet to comment on Witkoff's remarks regarding talks for a second phase, which should also see the release of dozens of hostages still being held by militants.

Comment: ABC News adds:

The Philadelphi corridor was one of the main sticking points in negotiations between Israel and Hamas for months before the current ceasefire deal was reached. This refusal could lead to a crisis with both Hamas and Egypt, the key mediator, at a delicate time for the already fragile truce.

Israel was supposed to begin withdrawing from the Philadelphi corridor -- and the entire Gaza Strip -- on Saturday, the last day of the first phase of the ceasefire agreement. Israel was to complete its withdrawal from the corridor within eight days.

Management of the corridor is a red line for Hamas, which had refused to accept ceasefire proposals that did not require Israel to withdraw its troops from the border region.

Israeli officials have said in recent months that they believed the Israeli army had to stay in the Philadelphi corridor to prevent weapons being smuggled through the Egyptian border, back into Gaza, though Israel has destroyed tunnels in that area.

Defense Minister Israel Katz said at a meeting with local leaders that he had seen tunnels penetrating the border on a recent visit to the corridor.

Former Minister of Defense Yoav Gallant had publicly opposed Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's insistence that Israel must remain in the corridor -- and in the Netzarim corridor, which divides north and south Gaza -- to maintain its security and achieve its military goals and maintain its security.

In August, then-Israel Defense Forces Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi said holding on to any part of Gaza or the Philadelphi corridor are conditions Israel should not use as an excuse to break a potential deal with Hamas. The Israeli army can deal with both being out of Gaza and giving up control of Philadelphi, according to Halevi.

Bibi is so far off the deep end, he ignores his own advisors.