Biden to address Netanyahu over Philadelphi Axis demands: Axios
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Axios claimed Biden will address Netanyahu's insistence that the Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) remain deployed along the Philadelphi corridor.
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A Palestinian flag is seen with the background of a section of the wall in the Philadelphi corridor between Egypt and Gaza, on the background, near the southern Gaza Strip town of Rafah, Sunday, July 1, 2007 (AP Photo/Khalil Hamra, File)
US President Joe Biden is expected to speak with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday, allegedly urging him to show more flexibility in negotiations to reach a deal in Gaza, Axios reports.
According to a source familiar with the call, Biden will address Netanyahu's insistence that the Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) remain deployed along the Philadelphi corridor, a strategic area on the Egypt-Gaza border.
Netanyahu's new demand has emerged as a significant obstacle in the ongoing negotiations. Israeli, Egyptian, and US officials, who met in Cairo earlier this week, discussed the corridor, with "Israel" presenting a map showing a reduction in forces but still maintaining a presence along the border. The Egyptian side rejected the plan, and US officials communicated to "Israel" that the proposal was unacceptable.
Netanyahu has reportedly told Secretary of State Antony Blinken that he insists on IOF control of the entire corridor, suggesting to the families of captives that he might have convinced Blinken to agree.
However, State Department officials refuted this, noting that Blinken was not persuaded and that the US does not support Netanyahu's position.
Read more: Netanyahu chooses control of Philadelphi Axis over Israeli captives
A US official told AFP on Tuesday that Netanyahu's "maximalist statements" are counterproductive to achieving a ceasefire and risk derailing the negotiations. Blinken, speaking in Doha, reiterated that the US opposes any long-term Israeli occupation of the Gaza Strip.
Behind the scenes, Israeli Security Minister Yoav Gallant and other security leaders have expressed concerns about Netanyahu's stance. They believe that delaying a deal over the Philadelphi corridor could endanger the captives and increase the risk of a broader regional conflict.
Gallant visited IOF forces at the corridor on Wednesday, claiming the defeat of Hamas' Rafah Brigade in the area and stressing that the destruction of tunnels remains a priority.
"We got to the point where we destroyed 150 tunnels. And there is another small number that we will destroy. I gave immediate instructions," he said.
"The most important thing is that we remember that one of the goals of the war is the release of the hostages," Gallant said.
Read more: Netanyahu deliberately trying to sabotage captive deal, Lapid says
