Israeli officials have recently conveyed to intermediaries that they still favor a complete withdrawal of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) from the Philadelphi Corridor, the border zone between Egypt and the Gaza Strip, during the second phase of a prisoner exchange deal. This position contrasts with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s recent statement that Israel should retain a permanent military presence in the area, Kan, the Israeli public broadcaster, reported.
According to Israeli media reports, an Arab diplomat said that Mossad Director David Barnea made an urgent trip to Doha, Qatar, to inform Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani of Israel’s stance, just hours before Netanyahu’s press conference.
Netanyahu’s office on Tuesday did not deny these reports but noted that the security cabinet had not yet deliberated on the second phase of the agreement.
Earlier on Tuesday, US officials confirmed that Israel had agreed to the first phase of the deal, which involves the IDF withdrawing from heavily populated areas along the Philadelphi Corridor for a six-week period. However, the US indicated that Israeli forces might remain in other parts of the corridor not directly bordering populated zones.
Following Netanyahu’s comments, Egypt’s Foreign Ministry issued a sharp rejection, accusing the Israeli leader of escalating tensions and deflecting criticism over his conduct during the conflict. Egypt denied Netanyahu’s allegations that it allowed arms smuggling from Sinai to Gaza.