Israel agreed to withdraw from some parts of the “Philadelphia Axis”
Agencies – Washington:
The White House announced that its latest proposals for an Israeli-backed hostage deal include the withdrawal of the Israeli army from densely populated areas along the “Philadelphia axis,” after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that Israel must indefinitely maintain its presence along the axis. .
According to the Times of Israel, White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said in a press briefing: “The deal itself includes the withdrawal of Israeli forces from all densely populated areas… in the first phase… and this includes “Those areas along this corridor and its surroundings.”
He added: “This proposal was approved by Israel.”
But Kirby refused to clarify whether this meant that the United States supports allowing Israeli forces to remain in less populated areas along the “Philadelphia axis” during the first phase of the agreement, which will last 6 weeks.
However, the second phase of the agreement requires a complete Israeli withdrawal from Gaza. This is the item that Netanyahu’s statements on Monday seemed to contradict.
In a speech on Monday night, Netanyahu refused to “withdraw from the (Philadelphia axis),” even though this represents a violation of the peace agreement between Israel and Egypt in 1979. He said: “We were careful not to let a pin enter Gaza from our side, but they (Hamas) armed themselves through the (Axis). Philadelphia) and Egypt.
