Official says Netanyahu’s press briefing ‘torpedoed’ hostage deal efforts
Following the news of the killing of the six hostages in Gaza, officials involved in the mediation of the ceasefire talks have been on the phone discussing ways to push the ceasefire and hostage deal forward, a source familiar with the discussions told CNN.
But then Netanyahu gave his press conference Monday evening, arguing that Israel will never leave the Philadelphi corridor, “and this guy torpedoed everything in one speech,” the source said in an initial reaction.
Mossad director David Barnea also traveled to Doha and met with Qatari Prime Minister Mohammad Abudlrahman Al Thani on Monday.
Lead Hamas negotiator Khalil Al-Hayya told Al Jazeera on Sunday there would be no deal without the Israel Defense Forces withdrawing from the Philadelphi corridor, which runs along the Egypt-Gaza border. Between the hostages and the Israeli military presence in the corridor, the “Philadelphi was more important,” Hayya alleged.
Netanyahu’s recent insistence on staying in Philadelphi represents a change in position, sources familiar with the negotiations said. When Biden announced the framework on May 31 – which he said Israel had agreed to – it envisioned an IDF withdrawal eastward from populated areas. According to a draft published in Israeli media, there was no mention of Philadelphi.
In the weeks that followed, Israel then added remaining in Philadelphi as a condition, and the recent negotiations have discussed what the IDF presence along the border would look like.
A permanent IDF presence in the Philadelphi corridor would also contradict the US position on the future of Gaza. On Blinken’s most recent trip to Israel in August he told reporters that the US will not accept “any long-term occupation of Gaza by Israel.” Administration officials have made clear they expect a full withdrawal by Israel from Gaza as the result of any permanent ceasefire agreement.