Israeli prime minister Binyamin Netanyahu on Monday rejected calls to soften his refusal to withdraw troops from the southern Gazan border area as the price for a ceasefire deal, saying it was vital for Israel to control a key lifeline for Hamas.
Mr Netanyahu’s remarks came after businesses were disrupted by a general strike calling for a deal to return Israeli hostages from Gaza, and western allies increased pressure on Israel to secure a ceasefire agreement.
The issue of the so-called Philadelphi corridor, on the southern edge of the Gaza Strip bordering Egypt, has been a major sticking point in efforts to halt the fighting in Gaza and return hostages.
Hamas has rejected any Israeli presence, while Mr Netanyahu has insisted that Israel will not abandon the corridor, where Israeli troops have uncovered dozens of tunnels they say have been used to smuggle weapons and ammunition into Gaza.
“The axis of evil needs the Philadelphi corridor, and for that reason we must control the Philadelphi corridor,” he told a news conference in Jerusalem.
“Hamas insists for that reason that we not be there, and for that reason, I insist that we be there,” he said.
If Israel were to pull out of the corridor, international pressure would make it difficult to return, he said.
Mr Netanyahu’s stance on the negotiations has frustrated allies, including the United States, and widened a rift with his own defence minister, Yoav Gallant.
On Monday, US president Joe Biden said Mr Netanyahu was not doing enough to secure a hostage deal, an issue that has gained renewed urgency following the recovery of the bodies of six hostages on Sunday, only hours after they were shot dead.
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Asked about Mr Biden’s comments, Mr Netanyahu said the pressure should be applied to Hamas, not Israel, particularly after the death of the hostages.
“And now after this we’re asked to show seriousness? We’re asked to make concessions? What message does this send Hamas? It says, kill more hostages,” he said.
He said he did not believe Mr Biden or anyone serious about achieving peace would ask Israel to make more concessions: “We’ve already made them. Hamas has to make the concession.”
There was further pressure from another western ally when the British government announced the suspension of the export of some arms to Israel.
Foreign minister David Lammy said there was a risk that some equipment exported to Israel might be used in violation of international humanitarian law.
Britain is not a major military exporter to Israel – its arms make up about one per cent of Israeli imports – but the decision represented a political blow to Mr Netanyahu’s government.
Israeli protesters took to the streets for a second day and the largest trade union launched a general strike to press the government to reach a deal to return hostages still held by Hamas, after the six captives were found dead in Gaza.
The strike disrupted transport and medical services in several Israeli districts and many shops and businesses were closed after the head of the Histadrut union called a national stoppage. The strike ended after Israel’s labour court ordered workers to return to their jobs.
The recovery at the weekend of the hostages triggered a wave of grief and fury in Israel, prompting at least half a million people to take to the streets in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv on Sunday. Protests were under way again last night.
Israel’s assault on Gaza began after Hamas and other militants killed about 1,200 people and took about 250 hostages in attacks on Israel on October 7th, according to Israeli tallies. Since then, Israel’s offensive has levelled much of the enclave of 2.3 million people, and the Gaza health ministry says at least 40,738 Palestinians have been killed. Displaced people are living in dire conditions with inadequate shelter and a hunger crisis. – Reuters