Gallant demands reversal of crucial decision obstructing Gaza talks

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Israeli media
1 Sep 2024 11:44
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The Israeli Security Minister's demands reflect a position of the Israeli military command that directly contradicts that of the Israeli political command on the occupation of the Philadelphi Corridor.

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Israel Minister of Security Yoav Gallant makes a joint statement with American Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin after their meeting in Tel Aviv, occupied Palestine, on December 18, 2023. (AP)

Israeli Security Minister Yoav Gallant has called on the security cabinet to convene and reverse a crucial decision it had taken on Thursday.

Earlier, the Israeli security cabinet, the top decision-making body in the Israeli regime, had decided that the Israeli military occupation in the Philadelphi Corridor be maintained regardless of any future ceasefire agreement.

The corridor stretches from the Israeli-controlled Karem Abu Salem crossing to Rafah's shore passing through the Rafah border crossing between the Gaza Strip and Egypt. "Israel" occupied the corridor in its ground invasion of the city of Rafah in May.

Israeli officials, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, believe that the occupation of the corridor would bolster "Israel's" security. However, this approach has faced strong opposition from the Palestinian Resistance and Egyptian mediators, who view the policy as a major hurdle to reaching a final deal.

Gallant, who reflects the positions of Israeli security and military officials, voted against the occupation of the Philadelphi Corridor, marking a unique position among his peers who voted in favor of the decision. Notably, only the far-right Police Minister abstained from the vote during Thursday's meeting, albeit for different reasons.

Gallant's position reflects schism between Netanyahu and military officials

Now, Gallant is calling upon the cabinet to meet once more and walk back on the decision, as reported by The Times of Israel.

"The security cabinet must convene immediately and reverse the decision made on Thursday," the Security Minister posted on X.

His statements coincide with an announcement from the Israeli military command, which explained that Israeli occupation forces recovered the bodies of six Israeli captives from Rafah. Thought to have been alive, the captives were discovered dead, according to the account of the Israeli military command.

The incident shook the Israeli political scene, once again, as politicians and activists from the opposition urged protests in response to the government's complacency in regard to the lives of the Israeli captives.

While Gallant maintained that it was too late for captives who were found dead, he affirmed that those who remain in captivity "must be returned home."

His remarks echo voices within the Israeli military apparatus, which believes that a prisoner exchange deal would be the best way forward to release the Israeli captives from the Gaza Strip.

On the other hand, Netanyahu and his far-right allies have placed hurdle after hurdle in the face of the ceasefire talks, as their renewed demands continue to move back the progress made in previous meetings.