IsraelioppositionleaderYairLapidhascalledforadealwithHamastosecurethereleaseofIsraelicaptivesfromGazaandtoendtheongoingconflict,News.AzreportscitingAnadoluagency.
Israelhaskilledmorethan40,000PalestiniansinGazasincetheOct.7Hamasincursionthatclaimed1,200livesandaround250othersweretakenashostages.Themilitarycampaignhasdisplacednearlytheentirepopulationof2.3millionpeople,andledtofamine-likeconditionsandspreadofdisease.
PrimeMinisterBenjaminNetanyahusayshismilitarymustretaincontroloverGaza’ssouthernborderareawithEgypt–knownasthePhiladelphiCorridor–apositionthatthreatenstoderailcease-fireefforts.
CriticssayNetanyahuisblockingthedealoutoffearthathisgovernmentmightcollapse.
MickeyLevy,aKnessetmemberfromLapid'sparty,toldIsraelipublicradioonSaturday:"UntilMay,thePhiladelphiCorridorwasn'tevenonthetable."
“Thefearofthegovernmentcollapsingandfearof(far-rightNationalSecurityMinisterItamar)BenGvirand(far-rightFinanceMinisterBezalel)Smotrich,whohaveNetanyahubythethroat,iswhatledtothissituation,”headded.
LevywarnedthatremainingincontrolofthePhiladelphiCorridorcouldleadtotheneedlessdeathsofmanyIsraelisoldiers.
ApollreleasedbyIsrael'sChannel12onFridaynightrevealedthat60%ofIsraelisbelievethatsecuringadealtobringbackhostagesfromGazaismoreimportantthanholdingontothePhiladelphiCorridor.
Egypt,amediatorinthecease-firetalksalongwiththeUSandQatar,hasalsodemandedatimelineforIsrael’swithdrawalfromthecorridor.
