Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s insistence on maintaining an Israeli military presence in Gaza could undermine ongoing peace talks and jeopardize the release of hostages, CNN reported on Monday.
Officials from the administration of US President Joe Biden have reportedly been discussing ways of pushing the ceasefire and hostage deal forward, the outlet wrote. Peace efforts intensified following the discovery of six bodies, including that of an American-Israeli citizen, in an underground tunnel in the enclave over the weekend.
Speaking to reporters on Monday, Biden said his administration was “very close” to proposing a “final” hostage deal to both sides.
In a press conference in Jerusalem on the same day, however, Netanyahu vowed that Israel would not relinquish control over a strategic 14km strip of land along the Gaza-Egyptian border known as the Philadelphi corridor. An Israeli military presence there is vital to ensure victory over Hamas, he claimed.
In reaction to the statement, a source familiar with the discussions in Washington told CNN that “this guy [Netanyahu] torpedoed everything in one speech.”
The Israeli prime minister’s stance on the Philadelphi corridor has emerged as a key obstacle to a ceasefire deal. According to CNN sources familiar with the negotiations, Netanyahu’s insistence on maintaining troops in Gaza represents a change in position.
The Israeli proposal for a hostage release and ceasefire deal with Hamas, which was submitted in May and negotiated with the help of Qatar, Egypt and the US, contains no mention of Philadelphi. Israel added its continued presence in the corridor as a “non-negotiable” condition in July.
Hamas has accused the Jewish state of prolonging negotiations by issuing new demands. Lead Hamas negotiator Khalil Al-Hayya told Al Jazeera on Sunday that there would be no deal without the Israeli military withdrawing from the Philadelphi corridor.
Netanyahu’s latest comments also drew ire from the Israeli opposition and the families of the hostages who remain trapped in Gaza.
Opposition leader Yair Lapid dismissed the Israeli leader’s statements as “unfounded political spin,” arguing that Netanyahu’s new condition “has no relation to reality.”
The Hostages Families Forum said the prime minister’s remarks showed “that he does not intend to return the hostages.”
Hostilities between Israel and Hamas flared up when the Palestinian militant group attacked southern Israel on October 7, killing around 1,100 people and taking more than 200 others hostage. Some were later released through prisoner swaps or were rescued by the Israeli army. According to Israel, Hamas is still holding 103 people captive in Gaza.
The massive military retaliation by Israel has claimed nearly 41,000 lives, mostly women and children in the enclave, according to Palestinian health officials.