A small piece of land next to Gaza, known as the Philadelphi corridor, is causing big problems for peace talks between Israel and Hamas. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu wants to keep control of this area to stop Hamas from getting weapons through tunnels from Egypt. He says this control is super important for Israel’s safety.
But, some big names in Israel, like the defense minister, think giving up control of this corridor could help get back around 100 hostages that Hamas is holding. Things got worse when Israel found six hostages dead, which might have been avoided if there was a peace deal sooner.
Netanyahu’s rivals say he’s messing up the chance for peace just to help his own political goals. Meanwhile, Netanyahu points the finger at Hamas, saying they’re the ones not wanting peace. This disagreement is making it really hard to stop the fighting in Gaza.
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What Is The Philadelphi Corridor?
The Philadelphi corridor, a thin strip of land along Gaza’s border with Egypt, is causing big problems. It’s about nine miles long and not very wide, but it’s right next to the Rafah crossing, which is how food, medicine, and help get into Gaza.
Israel’s Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, says Israel must control this corridor to stop weapons from getting into Gaza. He calls it a “lifeline for Hamas,” the group in charge there. But, not everyone in Israel agrees with him. Some think other ways, like using international forces or high-tech sensors, could watch the border instead.
Egypt, which is right next to this corridor, doesn’t want Israeli soldiers there at all. They say it could mess up the peace deal they have with Israel. Also, Hamas and Egypt have said “no” to Israel’s control over this area.
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Inside Israel, there’s a big fight about this. Some think Netanyahu cares more about keeping land than saving people, like hostages held by Hamas. His supporters say giving up the corridor would make Israel less safe.
For people in Gaza, having Israeli forces near them feels like being occupied, which could make the fighting last longer and make it hard for them to get the help they need through Rafah.
