Netanyahu Stands Resolute On Philadelphi Corridor: ‘If We Leave, We Won’t Be Able to Return’
by Emmitt Barry, Worthy News Correspondent
(Worthy News) – During a press briefing to foreign media on Wednesday night, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reiterated his stance that Israel cannot abandon the 7.8 mile long Philadelphi Corridor along the Gaza-Egypt border without first implementing a viable plan to prevent weapons smuggling into the Gaza Strip.
Netanyahu stated that Israel could consider leaving the Philadelphi Corridor during Phase Two of a hostage deal, as part of discussions surrounding a permanent ceasefire. However, Netanyahu also stated “the conditions that we shall have for a permanent ceasefire must include a situation where the Philadelphi corridor cannot be perforated.”
However, Hamas has demanded that Israel withdraw from the Philadelphi Corridor and the rest of the Gaza Strip before Phase One can begin.
During the press conference, Netanyahu detailed how the Philadelphi Corridor “became completely porous” following Israel’s unilateral disengagement from the Gaza Strip in 2005. He explained that Hamas began smuggling weapons into Gaza through the corridor, “despite Egypt’s policy to prevent it.”
As a result of this smuggling, “rockets, missiles, drones, ammunition, weapons manufacturing equipment, and tunnel drilling tools all made their way into Gaza,” Netanyahu explained.
“Once we left the Philadelphi Corridor,” Netanyahu stated, “Iran could carry out its plan to turn Gaza into a base, a terrorist enclave, that would endanger not only the communities around it, but would endanger Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, and Beersheba.”
“You have to understand the centrality of the Philadelphi Corridor to the arming of Gaza, to the arming of Hamas,” Netanyahu emphasized.
Addressing proposals that weapons smuggling through the Philadelphi Corridor into Gaza could be stopped without an IDF presence, Netanyahu remarked, “Show me someone who can actually prove, not just on paper, not in words, not on a slide, but on the ground, day after day, week after week, month after month, that they can truly prevent the recurrence of weapons smuggling.”
Netanyahu added that if such a credible plan were presented, “we’re open to considering it. But I don’t see that happening… and until it does, we’re staying there.”
Addressing the suggestion that Israel could withdraw from the Philadelphi Corridor and return if necessary, Netanyahu responded, “When we want to come back [to Philadelphi], we’ll pay an exorbitant price in many fields,” including the potential loss of troops.
“We’re in now, [if] we leave, we won’t [be able to] come back. You know it. Everybody here knows it. Everyone knows the pressure that will be placed on us to prevent our return and the price we’ll have to pay if we try. It’s just not going to happen,” Netanyahu concluded.