Netanyahu Denies Israel Considering Leaving Egypt-Gaza Border

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Facts

• The office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Friday that a Reuters report claiming Israel has been discussing a withdrawal from the Egypt-Gaza Border — often referred to as the Philadelphi Corridor — was 'fake news.'¹
• Citing three unnamed regional officials, Reuters had claimed that Israel was considering the installation of an electronic surveillance system along the Philadelphi Corridor that would allow Israel to pull back from the area if a cease-fire is agreed upon.²
• However, two Israeli officials involved in the hostage talks contradicted Netanyahu's statement, telling The Times of Israel that the withdrawal would be part of an arrangement that would see Egypt, the US, and allies strengthen the border to ensure that Hamas can't smuggle weapons into Gaza.³
• Separately, a senior Hamas official said on Friday that the group has 'proposed that a non-partisan national competency government manage Gaza and the West Bank after the war,' adding that Gaza's governance should be an internal Palestinian matter.⁴
• This comes a day after US Pres. Joe Biden said that the war in Gaza must end now and Israel must not occupy the enclave after the war. He added that the proposal he announced last month 'is now agreed on by both Israel and Hamas.'⁵
• Meanwhile, the director of Gaza's Civil Defense said that about 60 bodies have been recovered, including entire families, from Gaza City's Tel al-Hawa neighborhood, which Israeli forces moved into earlier this week.⁶

Sources: ¹Timesofisrael (a), ²Reuters (a), ³Timesofisrael (b), ⁴Arabnews, ⁵Reuters (b) and ⁶Independent.

Narratives

• Pro-Israel narrative, as provided by The Times of Israel. The battle for Rafah was so important because it allowed Israeli forces to prevent Hamas from utilizing its subterranean supply lines into Gaza. Indeed, preventing Hamas from re-establishing these supply lines will prove crucial in defeating the terrorist group, as the money and guns coming from Egypt must stop, which is why Israel's continued control over the Philadelphi Corridor is paramount.
• Pro-Palestine narrative, as provided by Al Jazeera. Regardless of whether Reuters' report has merit or not, the reality is that after over nine months of non-stop brutality, the situation in Gaza continues to worsen. The US has failed to reel Netanyahu in, as Israel's occupation of the Philadelphi Corridor crosses Washington's red lines, violates its treaty with Egypt, and — most importantly — further victimizes the Palestinian population. Israel must withdraw from the Rafah Crossing and Philadelphi Corridor.

Predictions