Israel, Hamas hold ceasefire amid renewed dispute over Philadelphia security corridor and terrorist swap
A spokesman for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told Fox News Digital on Thursday that disputes over the security corridor in Philadelphia are once again undermining efforts to broker a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas.
The cease-fire and hostage-exchange deal ratified by the U.S. and Qatar on Wednesday appeared frozen as Americans woke up Thursday morning.
“The terrorist organization Hamas repeatedly raises new demands at the last minute, even though everything, including the US, has reached an agreement with the mediators,” said Prime Minister’s spokesman Omer Dostri, echoing comments that accused Hamas of “creating a last-minute crisis” and ” The terms negotiated by mediators “give back”.
Kirby’s ‘proud’ Americans in Gaza to be released Sunday amid reports of Israel-Hamas DEAL HOLDUP
Netanyahu said on Thursday that Israel “will pay the highest price for any attack on us in any quarter.” (Mayan Toph (GPO))
Pressed by Fox News Digital on what appeared to be a resumption of the deal, which took effect on Sunday, for specific issues, Dostri pointed to renewed disagreements over the security corridor between the Gaza Strip and Egypt.
“(Hamas is calling for) a reversal of the deployment of Israeli military forces along the Philadelphia corridor,” Dostri said, without specifying what disagreements had occurred.
Land withdrawal has been a frequent sticking point in negotiations, and may have contributed to the collapse of the July deal, which was supposed to free American-Israeli Hersh Golberg-Polin. Golberg-Polin and five other hostages were killed in a Gaza tunnel a month later.
Jerusalem says the corridor is critical to its national security interests and could be used by Hamas to regroup in strike efforts and to link up with jihadi groups in Egypt’s North Sinai region.
Israeli combat engineers search for Hamas tunnels in the Philadelphia Corridor along the Gaza-Egypt border. (TPS-IL)
In response to Fox News Digital, White House National Security Communications Adviser John Kirby said, “We are aware of these issues and are working with the government of Israel as well as with other partners in the region. We are confident that these will be implemented. Details may be lost and the agreement will go forward this weekend.”
Foreign Secretary Anthony Blinken echoed this sentiment and told reporters at a press conference that the deal “will come into effect on Sunday.”
IDF soldiers are battling terrorists in Gaza’s vital Netzarim Corridor. (IDF Spokesperson’s Department)
A part of the deal believed to have been agreed this week states that the Israel Defense Forces will remain in the Gaza Strip until the last hostage is freed. But Israel has agreed to begin withdrawing its troops to a security zone around communities along the Gaza border, The Times of Israel reported.
An Israel-Hamas ceasefire hangs in the balance because a key vote has been delayed
However, a senior diplomatic official told The Times of Israel that it was unclear what specifics had been agreed upon regarding the Philadelphia corridor. Intended to stay in the security corridor Ceasefire first season complete.
But Aitay Chen’s father – an IDF soldier believed to have been killed on October 7, 2023, whose body was taken to Gaza by Hamas – believes it is a security claim by far-right forces. Israel may again threaten the bailout deal.
Chen noted that he had repeatedly rejected any deal that did not include right-wing government members such as National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Givir and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich. The presence of the IDF in the Gaza Strip continues.
In the year A file photo shows Hamas terrorists during a military parade in Bani Suheila district, Gaza City, Gaza, July 20, 2017. (Chris McGrath/Getty Images)
“Members of the Bibi coalition are giving him a hard time. And you know, he might be trying to get out of it,” Chen said. “It’s easy to blame the other side.”
Another issue that reportedly came up, according to Netanyahu’s spokesman, was a demand by Hamas for the release of some of the terrorists currently held by Israel, although Fox News Digital could not confirm exactly what new demands had been made.
Israel has agreed to release dozens of Palestinian prisoners in the first 42-day phase to replace hostages in Gaza. During that time, 33 hostages will be released first, including any children, women, the elderly and the sick under the “humanitarian category”.
The second phase of the ceasefire, which will be negotiated on the 16th day, will include the release of both living and dead soldiers captured by Hamas. Some reports suggest that Israel may release more than 1,000 prisoners pending the completion of the exchanges.
Ronen Nutra, Ruby Chen, Jonathan Dekel-Chen, Liz Nafali, Addi Alexander, Orna Nutra and Yael Alexander, the families of Americans held hostage by Hamas in the October 7 terrorist attack in Israel, spoke to reporters. December 13, 2023 outside the West Wing of the White House in Washington, DC. The family has been invited to meet US President Joe Biden and Secretary of State Anthony Blinken in person. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
Click here to access the FOX NEWS app
Chen has been pushing for the release of all hostages, including the dead, and has argued that the plan to release the soldiers and the dead separately is not enough.
“(That) may be needed seven months before the framework is implemented,” Chen said. From then on, everyone is human – including the deceased.
“The only thing you can predict about the Middle East is that it’s unpredictable,” Chen added. “The Middle East is always a match away from exploding.”