Egypt Daily News – During a recent Israeli government meeting, Prime Minister Netanyahu introduced plans to maintain Israeli military presence in the Philadelphi Corridor, a strategic area along the Gaza-Egypt border, which prompted strong objections from Gallant and other officials.
The discussion reportedly escalated into a heated confrontation, with Gallant expressing concerns that pushing for these plans would undermine negotiations with Hamas and hinder the release of hostages.
Netanyahu’s approach, which appeared unilateral and dismissive of the security assessments from his defense and intelligence chiefs, raised alarms among cabinet members, as it suggested a potentially reckless escalation in military policy.
An Egyptian security expert provided insight into Netanyahu’s broader strategy, suggesting that Netanyahu is deliberately increasing tensions with Egypt to undermine its influence over the Palestinian issue and terms of negotiations.
This includes making claims about arms smuggling from Egypt to Gaza, which the expert argues are unfounded and serve to shift blame away from Israel’s own military challenges and failures.
Moreover, the expert posits that Netanyahu’s approach is part of a calculated effort to prolong the conflict until after the U.S. presidential elections, hoping for a favorable outcome for Donald Trump that would align with Israeli interests.
This strategy not only risks escalating military confrontations but could also further destabilize Israeli-Egyptian relations, dragging Egypt into a military conflict with Israel that many believe would be against its interests, while exacerbating the already complex humanitarian situation in Gaza.
Netanyahu believes Egypt was the main obstacle to implementing the “Deal of the Century,” which was seen as the best and most suitable solution for Israel to escape its predicament. Therefore, the Israeli Prime Minister thinks that Egypt should pay a heavy price for thwarting this deal.
The responses from Egyptian officials reflect growing concern over Israel’s narrative and strategic intent, emphasizing that Netanyahu’s tactics are being viewed as politically motivated rather than grounded in security realities.
This dispute highlights the fragile balance of power and the intricacies involved in negotiations surrounding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, as well as the broader geopolitical dynamics in the region.
