Some senior Israeli security officials are growing frustrated with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s handling of cease-fire negotiations with Hamas. They are hopeful that President Biden will persuade him to reconsider some of his demands during their meeting on Thursday.
Israel’s defense agencies are increasingly worried that Mr. Netanyahu’s insistence on Israeli forces screening Palestinians for weapons as they move between northern and southern Gaza could jeopardize the cease-fire and hostage exchange efforts. This demand has raised concerns among officials familiar with internal discussions on the matter.
Earlier this year, the Israeli military constructed the Netzarim corridor, a road south of Gaza City that effectively divides Gaza in two. A draft of a potential cease-fire agreement in May proposed Israeli forces withdrawing from part of the corridor to allow unarmed individuals to cross, enabling many displaced Gazans to return home. However, the government recently reversed this decision and now seeks to implement Israeli checkpoints throughout the corridor for weapon screening.
Last week, Israeli news outlets reported that the Israeli defense minister and Mossad’s head warned that this demand could delay or even derail the hostage release deal. Pressure from far-right religious parties further complicates the situation, as they threaten to dissolve the coalition government if Israeli forces withdraw from certain Gaza areas.
Some senior Israeli security officials are placing their hopes on President Biden to persuade Mr. Netanyahu to adhere to the initial plan of allowing Palestinians to pass through the Netzarim corridor without weapon screenings. This issue is expected to be a key topic during the White House meeting between the two leaders on Thursday.
A spokesman for the Israeli prime minister’s office did not provide comments on the matter when approached on Thursday. A senior U.S. administration official mentioned that negotiations between Israel and Hamas for a cease-fire and hostage deal are reaching their final stages.
