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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday set a condition for a permanent ceasefire, stating that Israel will not leave the Gaza border corridor until the border area between Gaza and Egypt is free from being used for the Islamist movement Hamas.
“Until that happens, we’re there,” Netanyahu said in a news conference in Jerusalem.
Netanyahu emphasised the need for guarantees that Gaza would be able to prevent becoming a route for smuggling weapons and supplies to Hamas.
“Somebody has to be there,” he said. “Bring me anyone who will actually show – not on paper, not in words, not on a slide – but day after day, week after week, month after month, that they can actually prevent a recurrence of what happened there before,” he said, referring to Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack on Israel.
“We’re open to consider it, but I don’t see that happening right now.”
Netanyahu’s comments came as the US is developing a new proposal for a cease-fire and hostage release, hoping to stop the 11-month-long war.
The Israeli Prime Minister rejected the withdrawal from the Philadelphi corridor, which runs along the southern edge of the Gaza Strip bordering Egypt, in the first phase of a deal.
The corridor has been a major obstacle in reaching an agreement to halt the fighting in Gaza and secure the release of Israeli hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners.
Netanyahu insisted on retaining control of the corridor, where Israeli troops have discovered numerous tunnels that officials claim have been used to supply Hamas with weapons and ammunition.
Addressing a news conference, the Israeli PM also mentioned that Hamas had rejected all elements of a ceasefire proposal in Gaza that would facilitate the release of hostages.
“Hamas has rejected everything… I hope that changes because I want those hostages out,” Netanyahu told a news conference, casting doubt on the possibility of a breakthrough one day after the State Department said it was “time to finalise that deal”.
“We’re trying to find some area to begin the negotiations,” Netanyahu said and added, “They (Hamas) refuse to do that… (They said) there’s nothing to talk about.”
“Until that happens, we’re there,” Netanyahu said in a news conference in Jerusalem.
Netanyahu emphasised the need for guarantees that Gaza would be able to prevent becoming a route for smuggling weapons and supplies to Hamas.
“Somebody has to be there,” he said. “Bring me anyone who will actually show – not on paper, not in words, not on a slide – but day after day, week after week, month after month, that they can actually prevent a recurrence of what happened there before,” he said, referring to Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack on Israel.
“We’re open to consider it, but I don’t see that happening right now.”
Netanyahu’s comments came as the US is developing a new proposal for a cease-fire and hostage release, hoping to stop the 11-month-long war.
The Israeli Prime Minister rejected the withdrawal from the Philadelphi corridor, which runs along the southern edge of the Gaza Strip bordering Egypt, in the first phase of a deal.
The corridor has been a major obstacle in reaching an agreement to halt the fighting in Gaza and secure the release of Israeli hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners.
Netanyahu insisted on retaining control of the corridor, where Israeli troops have discovered numerous tunnels that officials claim have been used to supply Hamas with weapons and ammunition.
Addressing a news conference, the Israeli PM also mentioned that Hamas had rejected all elements of a ceasefire proposal in Gaza that would facilitate the release of hostages.
“Hamas has rejected everything… I hope that changes because I want those hostages out,” Netanyahu told a news conference, casting doubt on the possibility of a breakthrough one day after the State Department said it was “time to finalise that deal”.
“We’re trying to find some area to begin the negotiations,” Netanyahu said and added, “They (Hamas) refuse to do that… (They said) there’s nothing to talk about.”
