TEL AVIV, Israel: Former Israeli military chief Benny Gantz has challenged Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s stance on the need to maintain a troop presence in the Philadelphi corridor, a narrow strip along the southern edge of the Gaza Strip bordering Egypt.
Gantz argues that keeping troops in this area is not essential for Israel’s security and should not be a sticking point in efforts to secure a deal to release the 101 hostages still held by Hamas in Gaza.
During a press conference, Gantz emphasized that Israel’s primary existential threat is Iran, not the Philadelphi corridor, which Netanyahu insists is crucial for stopping Hamas and other militants from smuggling weapons.
Gantz dismissed this rationale, claiming that Israeli soldiers stationed there would be “sitting ducks” and that their presence would not prevent tunnel-based smuggling effectively. Instead, Gantz advocates for a new barrier plan to block underground tunnels, which he claims has been sidelined by Netanyahu.
Gantz’s criticism comes amid growing frustration among allies, including the United States, over the slow progress in negotiations and Netanyahu’s inflexibility. Gantz, a key opposition figure and leader of a centrist party, called for new elections, stating that Netanyahu is unable to adapt to the evolving geopolitical landscape following recent events.
Netanyahu responded by defending his actions, highlighting recent military successes against Hamas and Hezbollah. However, the debate reflects deepening divisions within Israeli leadership regarding security policy and the handling of hostage negotiations.
