Reuters reports that in Hamas representatives will negotiate an end to hostilities in Gaza and the release of hostages demanding that Israeli troops be withdrawn from the border with Egypt. in Hamas also publicly blames B. Netanyahu that by refusing to leave the Philadelphia corridor, he is trying to hinder the achievement of an agreement.
However, at the press conference held on Wednesday, B. Netanyahu insisted to foreign journalists that “only such an agreement on the cessation of fire is possible, which does not allow making the Philadelphia corridor a hole.” “Gaza must be demilitarized and this can only happen if the Philadelphia Corridor is firmly controlled,” the prime minister added, noting that Israeli soldiers had discovered dozens of in Hamas a tunnel used for the delivery of combat weapons.
He said he was open to considering alternatives to deploying Israeli troops along Gaza’s border with Egypt as part of the deal. However, such an alternative would have to guarantee that no weapons, no tunneling equipment are brought across this border in Hamas hostages kidnapped during the invasion of Israel in October. “Someone has to show, not on paper, not just in words, not just in a projector image, but in a concrete place, day after day, week after week, month after month, that they can actually prevent a repeat of what happened there before, so that we can consider it. I don’t see that happening. And until it does, we will stay there,” Netanyahu said.
He also said that, in response to those who argue that such a position would kill a potential ceasefire agreement, he could say that such an agreement, which does not include protection against perforation of the border with Egypt, would kill Israel. An even bigger concession in Hamas after six hostages were murdered last week would be “illogical, immoral and insane”. “We have red lines. They haven’t changed. And we will keep them,” insisted the Israeli prime minister
2024-09-06 12:30:29