Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he would only agree to a hostage release and ceasefire deal that would allow Israel to maintain control of the Philadelphi corridor.
The Philadelphi corridor is a buffer zone on the border between Egypt and Gaza and the purpose of controlling it is to prevent arms smuggling.
The renewed statement is a response to Mossad director David Barnea and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant outlining other ways they could prevent arms smuggling if a ceasefire deal required a complete withdrawal of the IDF.
Both officials said that Israel could retreat from the Philadelphi corridor in the initial phase of the deal and return if the deal falls apart or if Hamas doesn’t not agree with the framework deal being negotiated.
