Netanyahu eyes control of border

PM insists keeping hold of corridor along Gaza-Egypt frontier as U.S. crafts new truce proposal

- JOSEF FEDERMAN

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Wednesday that Israel must keep open-ended control of Gaza's border with Egypt, digging in on his stance on an issue that has threatened to derail ceasefire efforts.

Netanyahu's comments came as the United States is developing a new proposal for a ceasefire and hostage release, hoping to break a long deadlock and bring an end to the nearly 11-month-old war.

The question of Israeli control of the Philadelphi corridor a narrow strip of land along Gaza's border with Egypt, seized by troops in May has become a central obstacle in the talks. Hamas has demanded an eventual full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza in the multiphase truce deal.

Egypt, a mediator in the talks along with the U.S. and Qatar, has also demanded a concrete timeline for Israeli troops to leave the Philadelphi corridor. And on Wednesday, the United Arab Emirates, which established formal ties with Israel in 2020, also criticized the Israeli stance.