How A Narrow Strip On The Egypt-Gaza Border Is Preventing A Cease-Fire Deal

A constrictive portion of scrubland and soil dunes connected nan Gaza broadside of nan separator pinch Egypt has emerged arsenic a awesome obstacle successful talks aimed astatine halting the Israel-Hamas war and freeing scores of hostages.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says Israel must support power complete nan alleged Philadelphi corridor to forestall Hamas from replenishing its arsenal done a web of smuggling tunnels successful nan area. He says that’s basal to guarantee nan group tin ne'er again motorboat an onslaught into Israel for illustration the 1 connected Oct. 7 that ignited nan war.

But galore Israelis, including nan defense minister, opportunity Israel should relinquish nan corridor, astatine slightest for a short play of time, successful bid to unafraid an statement to bring backmost astir 100 hostages still held successful Gaza, astir a 3rd of whom are believed to beryllium dead.

The statement reached a fever transportation this play aft Israel recovered the bodies of six hostages that nan subject says Hamas killed arsenic troops closed in. Critics opportunity they could person been returned live successful a cease-fire woody and impeach Netanyahu of sabotaging nan talks for his ain governmental interests.

Hamas has demanded a afloat withdrawal from Gaza and says Netanyahu only raised nan request for nan Philadelphi corridor successful caller weeks to derail nan talks.

Netanyahu blames Hamas for nan deficiency of a woody and says nan request is not new.

Egypt, which has served arsenic a cardinal mediator, is besides opposed to immoderate Israeli beingness on nan Gaza broadside of its separator and says it would frighten nan decades-old bid pact betwixt nan 2 countries, a cornerstone of location stability.

What is nan Philadelphi corridor and why does Israel want it?

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stands earlier a representation of nan Gaza Strip, telling viewers that Israel must clasp power complete nan "Philadelphi corridor," a strategical area on nan Palestinian territory's separator pinch Egypt, during a news convention successful Jerusalem connected Sept. 2, 2024.

Ohad Zwingenberg/AFP via Getty Images

The Philadelphi corridor is simply a portion — only 100 meters (yards) wide successful immoderate places— that runs nan 14-kilometer (8.6-mile) magnitude of nan Gaza broadside of nan separator pinch Egypt. It includes nan Rafah crossing, which was Gaza’s only outlet to nan extracurricular world not controlled by Israel until nan service captured nan full corridor successful May.

Israel says Hamas utilized a immense web of tunnels beneath nan separator to import arms, allowing it to build up nan subject instrumentality it deployed connected Oct. 7. The subject says it has recovered and destroyed dozens of tunnels since seizing nan corridor.

At a news convention connected Monday, Netanyahu pointed to a representation of nan region depicting weapons flowing into Gaza from crossed nan border, saying nan corridor provided “oxygen” for Hamas.

Egypt released a connection Tuesday rejecting Netanyahu’s allegations, saying they misled nan Israeli nationalist and obstructed cease-fire efforts. Egypt says it destroyed hundreds of tunnels connected its broadside of nan separator years agone and group up a subject buffer area of its ain that prevents smuggling.

What do Netanyahu’s critics opportunity astir nan corridor?

For weeks, Israeli media person quoted unnamed information officials lambasting Netanyahu, saying nan corridor is not basal to Israel’s information and should not clasp up a woody to return hostages. Some person suggested an world unit could patrol nan border, possibly pinch distant Israeli sensors.

The conflict sparked a shouting lucifer astatine a information Cabinet gathering past week, successful which Defense Minister Yoav Gallant accused Netanyahu of favoring separator arrangements complete nan lives of nan hostages, according to an Israeli charismatic who said connected information of anonymity to talk nan closed-door meeting. Gallant was nan lone dissenting sound successful a consequent ballot successful favour of maintaining power complete nan Philadelphi corridor and has since called connected nan authorities to reverse it.

Families of hostages person led months of wide protests calling connected Netanyahu to make a woody pinch Hamas to return their loved ones. The biggest demonstrations yet erupted complete nan play aft nan sidesplitting of nan six hostages, including Israeli-American Hersh Goldberg-Polin, 1 of nan best-known captives.

Netanyahu’s supporters opportunity that conceding nan Philadelphi corridor now would reward Hamas for sidesplitting nan captives. They support that only relentless subject unit tin conclusion Hamas, return nan hostages and bring astir a woody that ensures Israel’s semipermanent security.

What do Palestinians opportunity astir nan corridor?

An infographic created successful Ankara, Turkiye connected May 30, 2024. With Israel's seizure of nan Philadelphi Corridor, nan Egypt-Gaza separator statement came wholly nether Israel's control.

Elmurod Usubaliev/Anadolu via Getty Images

Any Israeli beingness wrong Gaza would beryllium wide seen arsenic a subject occupation, apt prolonging nan conflict.

It could besides extend, possibly indefinitely, nan closure of nan Rafah crossing, which has been a lifeline for Gaza since Egypt and Israel began imposing various degrees of a blockade connected nan territory aft Hamas seized powerfulness from rival Palestinian forces successful 2007.

For 16 years, it was nan only measurement for astir Palestinians to exit aliases participate Gaza. During nan first 7 months of nan war, it was besides nan only way disposable for aesculapian evacuations and nan main introduction constituent for desperately needed humanitarian aid.

Israel captured Gaza, nan West Bank and eastbound Jerusalem successful nan 1967 Mideast war, territories nan Palestinians want for their ain state. It withdrew soldiers and settlers from Gaza successful 2005 but continued to power nan territory’s airspace, coastline, and each of its separator crossings isolated from Rafah.

Hamas has adamantly rejected immoderate Israeli beingness successful Gaza, including successful nan Philadelphi corridor and the Netzarim corridor, a buffer area carved retired by Israel separating bluish from confederate Gaza. Israel says it needs that corridor to hunt Palestinians returning to their homes successful nan northbound to support militants from slipping in.

Israel besides accuses Hamas of making unacceptable demands since then, and says nan militant group is hindering a deal, including by sidesplitting hostages who would beryllium portion of it.

What is nan position of nan mediators?

An Egyptian worker stands among nan bushes successful nan wired separator of nan Philadelphi corridor, a buffer area that separates Egypt from Israel and nan Gaza Strip, March 19, 2007.

Cris Bouroncle/AFP via Getty Images

Biden’s reside and nan Security Council solution referred to a complete Israeli withdrawal. Egyptian officials and Hamas opportunity nan demands regarding nan corridors were not included successful consequent versions of nan U.S.-backed proposal, including 1 that Hamas said it accepted successful early July.

Egypt is profoundly opposed to immoderate Israeli subject beingness on nan Gaza separator and has refused to reopen its broadside of nan Rafah crossing unless nan Gaza broadside is returned to Palestinian control.

It has accused Israel of violating annexes to nan landmark 1979 bid treaty pertaining to Israel’s 2005 withdrawal from Gaza that modulate nan deployment of forces on nan border. Israeli officials did not instantly respond to a petition for comment.

The United States, which is providing important subject support to Israel while besides serving arsenic a mediator, has not taken a position connected nan corridors, astatine slightest publicly, while Hamas has accused it of trying to enforce Israel’s demands connected nan militant group.

Biden said Monday that Netanyahu was not doing capable to bring astir a cease-fire, without elaborating.

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Associated Press writers Tia Goldenberg successful Tel Aviv, Israel, Samy Magdy successful Cairo, and Josef Federman successful Jerusalem contributed.

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