Egypt Daily News – According to Axios, President Joe Biden is expected to have a conversation with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday.
The discussion will center around encouraging Netanyahu to adopt a more flexible stance regarding the border between Egypt and Gaza in ongoing ceasefire discussions.
The context of these talks comes after ten months of conflict in the Gaza Strip, during which Hamas has demanded a complete Israeli withdrawal from the area, including the Philadelphia Corridor, a key border area with Egypt.
Israel, however, insists on maintaining control over this corridor, which it took over in late May. Israeli sources have stated that they demolished numerous tunnels in this region that were allegedly used for smuggling weapons to militant groups in Gaza.
But Israeli officials, American diplomats, and Egyptian representatives agree that Netanyahu’s insistence on keeping control over the Philadelphia Corridor has become a significant barrier to reaching a possible peace agreement.
Discussions took place recently in Cairo where Israeli negotiators presented a map indicating that while some military forces had been withdrawn, others remained deployed along the corridor.
This proposal was reportedly rejected by Egyptian officials and termed impractical by the U.S. State Department. Biden and Secretary of State Antony Blinken are advocating against a prolonged Israeli military presence in Gaza.
Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant and local security leadership have suggested that it is feasible to withdraw forces from this corridor without compromising security.
They cautioned Netanyahu that delaying an agreement could jeopardize the safety of hostages held in Gaza and potentially escalate tensions in the region.
On a recent visit, Gallant confirmed the elimination of a Hamas-affiliated unit, indicating ongoing military operations in the area.
As the situation develops, the Biden administration continues to push for a resolution that avoids long-term occupation while emphasizing security for both Israel and Gaza.
