JERUSALEM: Israel must take full control of the Gaza Strip border corridor with Egypt to ensure a “demilitarization” of the area, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said.
Speaking at a press conference, Netanyahu said: “The Philadelphi Corridor — or to put it more correctly, the southern closing point (of Gaza) — must be in our hands. It must be shut. Any other arrangement would not ensure the demilitarization that we seek.”
He did not elaborate. If accomplished, such a move would mark a de facto reversal of Israel’s 2005 withdrawal from Gaza, placing the enclave under exclusive Israeli control after years of being run by Hamas.
Netanyahu’s comments about the buffer zone came as Israeli military forces pressed ahead with an offensive that the prime minister reiterated would last “for many more months.”
Netanyahu and his continued rule is the most significant existential threat to our country and our society.
Gal Tzur, Protester
Israelis, still largely united behind the war’s goals, are showing signs they are losing patience.
On Saturday night, thousands took part in one of the largest demonstrations against Netanyahu since the war began. The country is still sharply divided over the long-serving leader and a judicial overhaul plan he set in motion before the war.
“Prime Minister Netanyahu and his continued rule is the most significant existential threat to our country and our society,” said protester Gal Tzur.
A separate protest on Saturday called for the release of the estimated 129 remaining hostages held by Hamas. Families of hostages and their supporters have demanded that the government prioritize hostage releases over other war objectives, and have staged large protests every weekend.
Egypt, one of the mediators between Israel and Hamas, has proposed a multistage plan that would kick off with a swap of hostages for prisoners, accompanied by a temporary ceasefire.
A similar deal in November saw Hamas free over 100 hostages and Israel release 240 Palestinian prisoners.
But the sides still appear far from striking a new deal.
Both Hamas and the Islamic Jihad group say no more hostages will be freed until Israel ends the offensive and withdraws from Gaza.
