The Situation of the Israeli Army on the Gaza-Egypt Border
The Israeli Prime Minister’s Office has stressed that reports of the army’s withdrawal from the Gaza-Egypt border are completely untrue. The Israeli government has stated that it remains committed to “achieving all of its stated war objectives”, including “securing the southern Gaza Strip”, a reference to Israeli control of the Philadelphi Corridor on the Egyptian border.
On the other hand, Israeli state television KAN reported that Prime Minister Netanyahu and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken reached an agreement on the withdrawal of the Israeli army from the Philadelphia Corridor in the “second phase” of a possible prisoner exchange and ceasefire agreement with Hamas on August 20. It also states that Hamas and Egypt have demanded “Israel’s withdrawal from the Gaza-Egypt border” since the beginning of the negotiations.
Indirect ceasefire negotiations are expected to be held in Cairo on August 22-23 with the participation of host country Egypt, Qatar, the US and Israeli delegations. Hamas stated that Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu was obstructing the agreement by putting forward new conditions in the negotiations mediated by the US, Egypt and Qatar.
Among the articles that Netanyahu added to the agreement and presented as a precondition is that “the Israeli army will maintain its dominance in the Philadelphi Corridor and the Netzarim Corridor that divides the Gaza Strip along the north-south line.” Israeli media reported that US President Joe Biden would try to persuade Netanyahu to withdraw from the Philadelphi Corridor in a phone call on August 21 to agree to a ceasefire.
