US Confident in Israeli Security Despite Withdrawal from Philadelphia Axis

A senior Biden administration official expressed confidence that the withdrawal of Israeli forces from the Philadelphia axis can guarantee Israel’s security, even without another power taking over the area.

The official clarified that the first phase of the current agreement does not include a complete withdrawal of forces from the Gaza Strip, but rather focuses on densely populated areas. A complete withdrawal from the Strip is not currently planned.

There is disagreement over whether the Philadelphia axis is considered a populated area. However, a compromise has been reached to significantly reduce the presence of Israeli forces along the axis.

Israeli Opposition to the Agreement

Israeli ministers Bezalel Smotrich and Itamar Ben Gavi strongly oppose the agreement, describing it as “illegal.” The matter remains a point of contention within Israel.

Netanyahu Opposes the Ceasefire Agreement

At a news conference, Netanyahu criticized the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) for rejecting internationally-brokered ceasefire offers in exchange for the release of detained prisoners.

Netanyahu emphasized that maintaining control over the Philadelphia Axis is crucial to preventing Hamas from rearming. He noted that this issue is not the only obstacle to negotiations.

US State Department Response

US State Department spokesman Matthew Miller acknowledged Israel’s need to prevent weapons smuggling through the Philadelphia axis. He suggested that a possible solution could be reached if both sides make concessions.

Hamas Response

Hamas stated that there is no need for new ceasefire proposals in the Gaza Strip. The movement emphasized that the most important thing is to pressure Netanyahu and his government to adhere to previous agreements.

Hamas warned that Netanyahu is using the talks to prolong aggression against the Palestinian people. The movement views the decision not to withdraw from the Salah al-Din Axis as an attempt to derail any potential deal.

Current Agreement Status

The current agreement consists of 18 items, with 14 agreed upon. The remaining items relate to Palestinian prisoners and detainee issues.

The deal is reportedly 90% agreed upon, with Israel attempting to bridge the gap with Hamas. However, the movement is making the process challenging.

Egypt and Qatar have made significant efforts to bring the two sides closer, but the killing of 6 Israeli prisoners over the weekend has affected the progress achieved.

The United States continues to support efforts aimed at ending the deal, but consensus has yet to be reached on sensitive issues, such as the Rafah crossing.