Chokepoint on Gaza Strip's southern border with Egypt

Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty reiterated the North African country's firm opposition to Israel's control of the Philadelphia Corridor, a narrow 14.5km strip of land along the Gaza Strip's southern border with Egypt; declaring Tel Aviv's actions unacceptable.

Protesters block the Ayalon Highway in Tel Aviv demanding the Israeli government reach an agreement to release hostages. Photo: Times of Israel

Egypt determined

Speaking at a press conference in Cairo, Foreign Minister Abdelatty also rejected Israeli control over the Rafah crossing on the Palestinian side; at the same time, he reiterated Cairo's stance that it would not accept any alternative arrangements at the crossing between the Gaza Strip and Egypt. The Egyptian foreign minister also objected to some countries applying double standards in the process of resolving the conflict between Hamas and Israel.

Earlier, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reaffirmed Israel's determination to control the Philadelphia Corridor after the Israeli media reported that the Israeli cabinet had voted in favor of a proposal to maintain forces on the Egypt-Gaza border in the post-conflict period. Meanwhile, Hamas announced that it would only accept a ceasefire and hostage exchange with Israel if it completely withdrew from the Philadelphia Corridor. Israel established control of the Philadelphia Corridor on May 29. The issue of control of the Philadelphia Corridor has become a major point of disagreement in the ceasefire negotiations.

Public opinion is disappointed.

Regarding the war between Israel and Hamas, speaking at a press conference at the White House on September 2, after the Israeli army discovered the bodies of 6 hostages in the Gaza Strip on August 31 (including 1 American-Israeli), US President Joe Biden expressed disappointment with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, saying that the Tel Aviv leader has not yet made enough efforts to reach an agreement to release the hostages currently being held by the Hamas Islamic movement in the Gaza Strip.

For months, the United States, along with mediators Egypt and Qatar, have been trying to push for a ceasefire and hostage exchange between Israel and Hamas. Negotiations have been held alternately in Qatar and Egypt, but have so far yielded no results. In that context, the discovery of six bodies in a Gaza tunnel by the Israeli military last weekend is expected to continue to cast a shadow over the negotiations; at the same time, it will put greater pressure on Prime Minister Netanyahu's government to quickly reach an agreement to rescue the hostages.

Meanwhile, Hamas and Israel have blamed each other for the deaths of the six hostages in Gaza. The Times of Israel reported that Abu Obeida, a spokesman for the Al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of Hamas, said Prime Minister Netanyahu and the Israeli army were fully responsible for the deaths of the six because they had deliberately obstructed the prisoner exchange agreement. On the Israeli side, Foreign Minister Israel Katz blamed Hamas; at the same time, he warned that Tel Aviv would respond strongly after this incident.

In a related development, the British government has decided to suspend 30 arms export licenses to Israel immediately after finding a “clear risk” that British weapons could be used to commit serious violations of humanitarian law in the Gaza Strip. The suspension includes spare parts for military aircraft - including fighter jets, helicopters and drones.

Synthesized HAPPY CHI

Source: https://www.sggp.org.vn/nut-that-o-bien-gioi-phia-nam-cua-dai-gaza-voi-ai-cap-post757055.html