After previous hints that weapons were being smuggled across the Egyptian border into the Gaza Strip, Egypt responded sharply and decisively to statements made by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. On Tuesday, Egypt’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed in a statement its complete rejection of Netanyahu’s comments, accusing him of trying to “distract the Israeli public’s attention” and obstructing a deal regarding a ceasefire in Gaza and the exchange of detainees.
Obstruction of Mediation Efforts
The ministry added that such statements hinder the mediation efforts undertaken by Egypt, Qatar, and the United States, firmly rejecting all claims made by Israeli officials in this regard. Cairo also held the Israeli government responsible for the consequences of releasing such statements, which exacerbate the situation and aim to justify aggressive and provocative policies leading to further escalation in the region.
Egypt reiterated its commitment to continuing its historic role in leading the peace process in the region, which aims to maintain regional peace and security and ensure the stability of all the peoples in the area.
Netanyahu’s Address
This comes after Netanyahu declared in his speech yesterday that Israeli forces must maintain control over the Philadelphia Corridor (Salah al-Din) at the border between Gaza and Egypt to prevent arms smuggling, pledging “not to succumb to pressure” regarding this issue in ceasefire talks.
Egyptian military advisors, in statements to Alarabiya.net, described the Israeli Prime Minister’s comments as a sign of weakness and bankruptcy. They also pointed out that Netanyahu’s position is very difficult due to the economic losses and the cost of the war, which has reached about $76 billion so far.
It should be noted that for weeks, the Philadelphia Corridor, a narrow strip of land stretching 14.5 kilometers along Gaza’s southern border with Egypt, has been a major sticking point in discussions about the exchange of prisoners between Israel and Hamas and the ceasefire in the devastated Palestinian sector.
Months of intermittent negotiations have so far failed to reach an agreement on a proposal presented by U.S. President Joe Biden in May for a ceasefire in Gaza and a prisoner exchange, with Netanyahu insisting on a military presence at various locations in Gaza.
