The Biden-Harris administration announced Tuesday that it opposes Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's plan to maintain the Gaza-Egypt border, known as the Philadelphia Corridor, to prevent weapons from being smuggled into Gaza.
State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said at a press conference on Tuesday that the US opposes a long-term Israeli presence in the Gaza Strip. He also said that Israel agreed to a US “bridge” proposal last month that calls for the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) to withdraw from densely populated areas, “including the Philadelphia Corridor.”
From the State Department Transcript:
We have been clear about how we view the possibility of an Israeli continued presence in Gaza, and that is that we are opposed to it.
I would also like to add that the bridge proposal that we proposed, and that the Israeli government agreed to, included the withdrawal of the IDF from populated areas, including the Philadelphia Corridor. Now, as I said, there are some details that require further negotiation before the parties can determine how to fulfill their commitments under the agreement. I will not negotiate on that in public, but I am continuing to consult with the parties.
It is unclear whether Israel has agreed to withdraw from part or all of the Philadelphia corridor.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu gave a lengthy presentation on Monday about why he believes Israel needs to preserve the Philadelphia Corridor to prevent a Hamas resurgence.
Israeli opposition groups fired back on Tuesday, largely accepting Trump's argument but saying Israel could withdraw from the Philadelphia corridor and then return there, and questioning Trump's war efforts and hostage negotiations in general.
Some of Netanyahu's critics argue that his stance on the Philadelphia Corridor prompted Hamas to kill six hostages last week, but evidence suggests that Hamas' primary motivation was a desire to prevent the hostages from being rescued.
Hamas has accused Israel of changing its demands for a hostage deal, but Israel has not accepted any deal offered.
Joel B. Pollack is executive editor of Breitbart News. Breitbart News Sunday The show airs Sunday nights from 7 to 10 p.m. (4 to 7 p.m. ET) on SiriusXM Patriot. He is the author of “Agenda: What Trump Should Do in His First 100 Days,” which is available for preorder on Amazon. He also wrote,Trumpian virtue: The lessons and legacy of Donald Trump's presidency” is available on Audible. He is the 2018 recipient of the Robert Novak Journalism Alumni Fellowship. Follow him on Twitter. Joel Pollack.
