US says 'Israel' agreed to withdraw from parts of Philadelphi Corridor
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The US State Department stresses that "it is time" to finalize a ceasefire deal following the death of six Israeli captives in Gaza.
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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)
The death of six Israeli captives, whose bodies were discovered by the Israeli military over the weekend in Gaza, highlights the critical need for a ceasefire in the Palestinian enclave and the release of the remaining captives, the White House emphasized on Tuesday.
"Clearly what happened over the weekend underscores how important it is to get this done as quickly as possible," White House National Security spokesperson John Kirby told reporters in a briefing, blaming Hamas for the killings.
US officials are working on what some have described as a final proposal regarding a ceasefire and prisoner exchange between Hamas and "Israel", but Kirby claimed that Washington is not advocating a "take it or leave it" approach.
He said the US is developing a proposal that aims to secure the release of the remaining captives "and will include massive and immediate relief for the people of Gaza and also result in a stoppage of the fighting," without providing a specific timeline for when the proposal would be formally presented.
US President Joe Biden said Monday that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was not doing enough to secure a deal.
"We are still in constant consultations with Qatar, Egypt and Israel, and of course, Qatar and Egypt are in touch with Hamas, and we're going to do what we can to get it done," indicated Kirby.
'It is time to finalize that deal': US State Department
In a related context, the US State Department on Tuesday emphasized the need for urgency and flexibility to finalize an agreement between "Israel" and Hamas, following the recent deaths of the six Israeli captives.
"It is time to finalize that deal," State Department spokesman Matthew Miller told reporters.
He stressed that "the people of Israel cannot afford to wait any longer. The Palestinian people, who are also suffering the terrible effects of this war, cannot afford to wait any longer."
"The world cannot afford to wait any longer," Miller added.
The spokesman indicated that the United States will work "in the coming days" with mediators Egypt and Qatar "to push for a final agreement."
The US State Department emphasized that the agreement with "Israel" stipulates the withdrawal of military forces from populated areas. Furthermore, it clarified that its position on the Salah al-Din crossing is clear, which is against the presence of military forces there.
While acknowledging that preventing weapon smuggling through the crossing is in "Israel's" interest, the State Department argued that maintaining military forces there does not serve the purpose of negotiations.
A significant point of contention has been Netanyahu's demand for Israeli military control over the Philadelphi Corridor at the border between the Gaza Strip and Egypt.
Touching on the matter, Miller expressed Washington's opposition "to the long-term presence" of Israeli troops in Gaza.
"Finalizing an agreement will require both sides to show flexibility. It will require that both sides look for reasons to get to yes rather than reasons to say no."
'Israel' approved partially withdrawing troops along Philadelphi Corridor: White House
Also regarding the Philadelphi Corridor, the White House said that an Israeli-approved framework for a deal, aimed at bridging gaps between the parties, includes the withdrawal of Israeli forces from all densely populated areas along the Philadelphi Corridor.
The announcement comes a day after Netanyahu asserted that "Israel" must maintain military control along the Gaza-Egypt border and would continue to do so for the foreseeable future.
"That’s the proposal that Israel had agreed to," indicated White House National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby.
When asked whether the US supports allowing Israeli troops to remain in less densely populated areas along the Philadelphi Corridor, Kirby declined to provide clarification.
"I’m not going to get into a debate with the prime minister over what he said over the weekend," he further stated.
This comes as the negotiations regarding completing a ceasefire in Gaza and a prisoner exchange deal between "Israel" and Hamas have been stalled with Netanyahu's insistence on continued Israeli military control over the Philadelphi Corridor.
Meanwhile, Hamas has reiterated its key demands for any potential agreement; a permanent ceasefire, the complete withdrawal of Israeli occupation forces from the Gaza Strip, the unrestricted return of displaced residents to their homes, comprehensive relief and reconstruction efforts, and a serious prisoner exchange deal.
The Palestinian Resistance group has also demanded that "Israel" adhere to the terms agreed upon on July 2, which are based on the plan laid out by Biden and a UN Security Council resolution.
Despite US claims that an agreement is near, the most recent talks held in Cairo last weekend ended without a conclusive outcome, and Hamas has indicated that Washington is attempting to create the illusion of nearing an agreement for its own interests.
Netanyahu's emphasis on Israeli control over the Philadelphi Corridor has once again angered Israelis demanding the return of captives held in Gaza, especially after the Israeli military announced the discovery of the bodies of six of them in a tunnel in the city of Rafah, in the southern Gaza Strip.
Opposers of the Israeli Prime Minister argue that he has so far prioritized military pressure on Hamas rather than putting effort into retrieving the remaining captives alive.
Read more: Israeli min. proposes north Gaza Strip control, thus ethnic cleansing
