US says ceasefire rejection unnecessary, Israel secure without Philadelphi Corridor

A senior American official stated yesterday that the US is able guarantee Israel’s security even if Israeli forces withdraw from the Philadelphi Corridor, Haaretz has reported. The comments come just days after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu insisted on retaining control of the corridor, a move that critics believe is an attempt to derail a potential ceasefire deal, which would include the release of hostages held in Gaza.

The Philadelphi Corridor, a 14km strip of land bordering Egypt, has become a contentious issue in ceasefire negotiations between Israel and Hamas. Netanyahu has insisted on maintaining control of the corridor, adding it as one of four non-negotiable conditions to any deal.

This demand came after Hamas had already agreed to US President Joe Biden’s ceasefire terms in May. Analysts argue that continuing the military campaign in Gaza, which the International Court of Justice (ICJ) has described as a “plausible genocide“, serves Netanyahu’s political and personal interests.

The US official, speaking to reporters via Zoom, expressed confidence in potential security arrangements around the corridor. “There’s things the United States can do [to] fully account for Israel’s security needs,” the official is reported as saying, addressing Israeli claims directly about the necessity of controlling the area.

“I’d argue not getting into this deal is more of a threat to Israel’s long-term security,” added the official. “And that includes the Philadelphi Corridor.” The statement comes in stark contrast to Netanyahu’s assertion that, “The axis of evil [sic] needs the Philadelphi Corridor, and for that reason, we must control [it].”

Notably, Israel’s Defence Minister Yoav Gallant has criticised the prioritisation of the Philadelphi Corridor over the lives of hostages, reported the Times of Israel. “This is a moral disgrace,” Gallant told ministers.

Regarding the broader ceasefire negotiations, the US official revealed that “90 per cent of this deal has been agreed, even on Hamas terms.” The official described the process as “frustrating”, but emphasised that a deal might be “the only viable option for saving the hostages.”

The current impasse follows a near-agreement in late May, which would have seen an Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, the release of about 90 captives held in Gaza, and the release of hundreds of Palestinians from Israeli prisons.

According to Haaretz, the US official stressed that the first phase of any deal “does not call for full withdrawal of Israeli forces and never has. Just from densely populated civilian areas.” The official added that nothing specifically mentions the Philadelphi Corridor, and a dispute has emerged over whether it counts as a densely populated area.

With the US, Egypt and Qatar working on the details of a prisoner exchange, the official concluded that they remain committed to facilitating an agreement, although they “won’t make predictions” about the outcome.

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