It’s essential for Israel to hold onto the Rafah Crossing and the strategic buffer zone between Egypt and Gaza known as the Philadelphi Corridor, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Thursday during his first visit there since Israel seized the area in May.
“The understanding that our possession of the Philadelphi Corridor and the Rafah crossing are essential only grew stronger” during this visit, Netanyahu told the soldiers serving there.
היום עם לוחמינו ברפיח. רק הלחץ הצבאי עוזר לנו להחזיר את חטופינו. pic.twitter.com/6YQ9Q272pL
— Benjamin Netanyahu - בנימין נתניהו (@netanyahu) July 18, 2024
He spoke as efforts continued for a deal to secure the release of the remaining 120 hostages in Gaza. The issue of control of the Philadelphi Corridor has been one of the sticking points in the talks, with security officials stating that other options were possible, including an underground barrier that would prevent weapons from smuggling in that area.
The military pressure the IDF is exerting “at Hamas’s throat” right here, alongside a firm stand for “our just demands,” helps “us advance a hostage deal,” Netanyahu stated.
This includes Israel’s demand that the maximal number of live hostages be released during the first phase of the deal, the Prime Minister stated.
“This double pressure does not delay the transaction - it promotes it,” he said.
Netanyahu to discuss deal in Washington
The issue of the hostage deal is expected to come up during Netanyahu’s visit to Washington next week, where he will meet with US President Joe Biden and address a joint session of Congress.
Netanyahu told the soldiers he would promote Israel’s righteous cause in Gaza as well as the heroism of its soldiers while he was in Washington.
IDF activity
The only ground troop activities which the IDF mentioned on Thursday related to Rafah, now that the IDF has pulled most troops out of northern Gaza, and has had no troops in Khan Yunis since April.
There are likely still a small number of IDF soldiers in central Gaza to prevent Hamas from moving between the northern and southern sectors.
Yonah Jeremy Bob contributed to this report.