Cabinet Backs Netanyahu’s Plan to Keep Troops in Philadelphi Corridor

Israel’s security cabinet voted overwhelmingly last night to support Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s stance on maintaining Israeli troops in the Philadelphi Corridor along the Egypt-Gaza border as part of the ongoing cease-fire and hostage release negotiations, a senior official in the premier’s office told Times of Israel.

The cabinet approved a series of maps drawn by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) outlining plans to sustain a military presence in the nine-mile strip, a move already supported by the United States as part of a bridging proposal from the Biden Administration. Netanyahu has argued that continued control over the corridor is crucial to preventing weapons smuggling that could enable Hamas to re-arm following the war.

Eight ministers supported Netanyahu’s position, with Defense Minister Yoav Gallant casting the only opposing vote. Gallant and other members of the security establishment have pushed for greater flexibility, fearing Netanyahu’s stance could prolong negotiations and put hostages’ lives at greater risk. National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir abstained, arguing that Netanyahu’s position was not aggressive enough.

During the meeting, Netanyahu blamed previous security decisions for Israel’s current predicament, including the 2005 Gaza withdrawal, the 2000 withdrawal from Lebanon, and the Oslo Accords of the 1990s, which he claimed had failed to prevent attacks on Israel.