The Media Line: Prime Minister Netanyahu: Leaving Gaza-Egypt Border Would ‘Kill the Deal’

At a press conference on Wednesday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu outlined his position on the ongoing conflict in Gaza, focusing on the strategic importance of the Philadelphi Corridor — the border area between Gaza and Egypt — and reaffirming his refusal to withdraw Israeli troops as part of any potential cease-fire and hostage release deal.

When questioned about his previous statement in April that Israel was “a step away from victory” over Hamas, Netanyahu clarified that his remarks referred to the critical need for Israel’s offensive in Rafah, launched in May, to achieve military goals. “Now, we’re in a position to destroy Hamas militarily,” he stated while emphasizing that further efforts are needed to dismantle Hamas’s governance capabilities.

Netanyahu insisted that maintaining an Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) presence along the Gaza-Egypt border is essential. “If Israel leaves the corridor, it won’t be able to come back,” he asserted. Critics have argued that this stance may jeopardize a potential deal to secure the release of hostages held by Hamas, but Netanyahu dismissed these concerns, claiming that withdrawing would eliminate Israel’s leverage.

Using a map to illustrate his points, Netanyahu argued that the Philadelphi Corridor is crucial to preventing Hamas from rearming and that Israel’s control over this border zone is necessary to protect both Israeli citizens and the people of Gaza from further terror activities.

However, Netanyahu’s insistence on maintaining Israeli forces in the corridor has led to friction with the Israeli defense establishment, including Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, who suggests that Israel could temporarily withdraw and later retake the area if needed.

Opposition critics accuse Netanyahu of recently seizing on the Philadelphi Corridor issue to avoid striking a deal. In response, Netanyahu reiterated that holding onto the corridor is vital to ensure the release of hostages and to maintain pressure on Hamas.

He also stressed that withdrawing from the corridor could allow Hamas to smuggle hostages out of Gaza to countries like Iran or Yemen, a concern he suggested was central to Israel’s military strategy. “If we leave Rafah, we won’t get the hostages,” he warned.