“It’s not the Philadelphi Route, but rather a Philadelphi spin,” says the mother of captive Matan Zangauker, suggesting that Netanyahu is using the Philadelphia Corridor as an excuse to avoid the deal.
At a press conference in front of the Ministry of Defence headquarters in Tel Aviv on Saturday, the families claimed:
“Since early July, a deal has been ready for signing, but Netanyahu’s new conditions, especially the Philadelphi Route, are obstructing it.”
“It’s not the Philadelphi Route but a Philadelphi spin,” said the mother of captive Matan Zangauker, suggesting that Netanyahu is using the Philadelphia Corridor as a pretext to avoid finalizing the deal.
The families urged US President Joe Biden to pressure Netanyahu’s government to finalize the exchange deal, stating that “most of the public and even those within the government understand that saving lives requires reaching a deal first, even if it means pausing the war.”
Netanyahu has pledged to Biden that the Israeli army will withdraw one kilometer from the 14-kilometer-long Philadelphi Corridor, which borders Gaza and Egypt, while maintaining a minimal military presence. This pledge is part of ongoing discussions between Israel and the US regarding the Gaza offensive and regional security, as reported by Israel’s Channel 12.
The broadcaster also mentioned that Egypt has reportedly agreed to provide Hamas with updated maps of Israeli army positions in the Philadelphi Corridor, although Cairo has not officially confirmed this.
The Philadelphi Corridor, a 14-kilometer demilitarized buffer zone along the Gaza-Egypt border, remains a major issue in Israel-Hamas negotiations. Neither the Israeli government nor the US administration has officially commented on the reported pledge.
Efforts by the US, Qatar, and Egypt to broker a prisoner exchange, ceasefire, and humanitarian aid access have been stalled due to Netanyahu’s refusal to meet Hamas’ demands to halt the war. Israel’s ongoing offensive in Gaza, which began after a Hamas attack on October 7, has led to over 40,300 Palestinian deaths, primarily women and children, and more than 93,000 injuries, according to local health authorities.
