Egypt Daily News – The Israeli Defense Minister announced today, Thursday, Israel’s intentions regarding the Philadelphi Corridor. After the completion of the first phase of the ceasefire agreement, in which the Al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of Hamas, released 33 Israeli prisoners in exchange for hundreds of Palestinian detainees, Israeli officials have made statements—sometimes explicit and sometimes implicit—indicating their intention to remain in the Philadelphi Corridor.
Despite Hamas’s repeated commitment to the terms of the ceasefire agreement, while violations were committed multiple times, Israeli Defense Minister Yisrael Katz announced today, Thursday, that “the Philadelphi Corridor will remain a buffer zone, just as it is in Lebanon and Syria.”
The Israeli Defense Minister stated: “The first phase is over, and we have brought back 25 hostages alive, including soldiers. This was certainly not the case during various stages of negotiations, where there was talk of 10 or 12 hostages and 8 others who were not alive.”
Earlier today, Israel’s Energy Minister Eli Cohen, a member of Netanyahu’s government, stated that Israel would not withdraw from the Philadelphi Corridor until all Israeli hostages were returned, Hamas was removed, and the group was disarmed in Gaza. Additionally, an Israeli official confirmed that “Tel Aviv will not leave the corridor,” according to the Hebrew newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth.
The Israeli occupation is required to begin its withdrawal from the strategic corridor next Saturday, on the final day of the first phase (42 days) of the ceasefire agreement in Gaza and the prisoner exchange with Hamas. The withdrawal must be fully completed no later than the 50th day of the agreement, meaning it should take place within 8 days.
Despite Hamas’s commitment to the ceasefire agreement and accusations from the families of Israeli prisoners that Benjamin Netanyahu’s government is stalling and obstructing the completion of the deal, Katz claimed that the most effective way to secure the return of prisoners is for Hamas to understand that the Israeli army is prepared to resume the war.
It is worth noting that after the ousting of former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and the fall of his regime, Israeli forces advanced into the buffer zone with Syria, reaching Mount Hermon, which overlooks the capital, Damascus.
According to media reports, a few days ago, the Israeli army withdrew from the Lebanese border villages and towns it had occupied in southern Lebanon. However, it maintained its forces at five positions along the border between the two countries, “temporarily,” as claimed by Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar.
