'Israel' votes in favor of occupying parts of Philadelphi Corridor
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An Israeli journalist says that the maps outlining the IOF's presence along the corridor were delivered to the US, Egypt, and Hamas a few days ago.
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Israeli army vehicles are positioned near Rafah in southern Gaza on May 29, 2024. (AFP)
The Israeli security cabinet has approved new maps outlining areas across the Philadelphi Corridor that the Israeli army plans on occupying, Israeli journalist Barak Ravid said on Friday citing an Israeli official.
This marks the latest move by Tel Aviv which critics have said aims to sabotage potential ceasefire negotiations and solidify an occupation of Gaza.
In a post on X, Ravid said that the cabinet's decision was made after the plans had already been executed, describing the decision as "symbolic", adding that the approved maps were delivered a few days ago to the US, Egypt, and Palestinian Resistance group Hamas.
🚨The Israeli security cabinet approved tonight the maps that determine the IDF's deployment in the Philadelphi corridor, as part of a possible Gaza hostage and ceasefire deal, an Israeli official who attended the meeting said.
— Barak Ravid (@BarakRavid) August 30, 2024
🚨The maps, drawn by the IDF, were approved by a…
Read more: US backs Israeli approach to Philadelphi Corridor: Israeli official
A majority of eight Israeli ministers voted in favor of the new maps, which were drafted by the army, while Security Minister Yoav Gallant opposed the decision. Police Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, who has consistently opposed any withdrawal and supports full Israeli occupation of Gaza, abstained from the vote.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu defended the decision, saying that the October 7 Operation Al-Aqsa Flood "was made possible as a result of the fact that the Philadelphi corridor was not in Israel's hands".
The official said the prime minister noted that there will be no going back to the previous reality and that "this time Israel is determined to keep this border in its hands," according to Axios.
Read more: Talks 'stuck' over Netanyahu's demand for IOF presence in Philadelphi
Netanyahu prolonging the war
This comes after the latest unsuccessful round of ceasefire talks held in Doha last Friday where Hamas rejected the Israeli changes and additions to the previously agreed-upon July 2 terms backed by the Biden administration and UN Security Council Resolution 2735.
Egyptian broadcaster Al-Qahera News reported earlier this week, citing a high-level source, that Egypt is rejecting any Israeli military presence at both the Rafah crossing and the Philadelphi corridor along the Palestinian-Egyptian border. The broadcaster further noted that Cairo has communicated its stance to all relevant parties involved.
The Financial Times reported Tuesday that Netanyahu has insisted in recent weeks on maintaining Israeli military presence in the corridor, despite the Biden ceasefire proposal stating that there will be a complete Israeli withdrawal from Gaza in the second phase of the implementation.
Meanwhile, Axios said that Netanyahu’s insistence on keeping Israeli forces stationed along the Philadelphi Corridor "has become one of the main — and final — points of contention on the way to an agreement."
Senior Hamas official Osama Hamdan told Al Mayadeen last week that Hamas firmly rejects "Israel's" continued control over the Philadelphi and Netzarim corridors and the Rafah crossing in the Gaza Strip,
He emphasized that the Palestinian Resistance demands "practical measures regarding what was previously agreed upon, not more negotiations."
Following the latest Doha talks, Hamas said it urged mediators to present a plan to implement the proposal so negotiations do not become a vicious cycle, referring to how it has been made clear that Netanyahu's stalling and adding obstacles to prolong the aggression and buy himself more time in power.
"After listening to the mediators regarding what transpired in the latest round of talks in Doha, it became clear to us once again that Netanyahu is still placing obstacles in the way of reaching an agreement, setting new conditions and demands aimed at thwarting the mediators' efforts and prolonging the war," the movement stated then.
