Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is locked in a tense standoff with Israeli ceasefire negotiators over the terms of a potential ceasefire in Gaza, as pressure mounts from both domestic and international fronts. According to a source close to the talks, the primary sticking point remains Netanyahu's insistence on retaining control of the Philadelphi Corridor, a strategic area along the Gaza-Egypt border, and the Netzarim Corridor, which cuts across the Gaza Strip. These demands are aimed at preventing Hamas from smuggling weapons and fighters across borders and moving armed forces within Gaza.
The dispute has reportedly caused friction within Netanyahu's own negotiating team, with some members urging the Prime Minister to make more concessions. "The prime minister insists that this situation will continue, contrary to pressure from certain elements in the negotiating team who are willing to withdraw from there," said a source familiar with the negotiations. This internal discord comes as U.S., Egyptian, and Qatari mediators push for an end to hostilities that began following Hamas's deadly attack on Israel on October 7.
The conflict, which has claimed over 1,200 Israeli lives and more than 40,000 Palestinian lives according to officials, has also led to the abduction of approximately 250 hostages. The negotiations, which have seen little progress, have placed Netanyahu in a precarious position. The Prime Minister faces significant pressure from the families of Israeli hostages who are growing increasingly frustrated with the government's inability to secure their loved ones' release.
In a heated meeting on Friday, former hostages and the families of those still in captivity implored Netanyahu to finalize a deal. "You are the prime minister and you are responsible for the abductees," one family member said during the meeting, which was later leaked to Israeli media. Netanyahu, however, pushed back, insisting that no deal is currently on the table and that rumors suggesting otherwise are false. "Whoever told you that there was a [hostage-ceasefire] deal on the table and that we didn't take it for this reason or that reason, for personal reasons, it's just a lie," Netanyahu responded.
The meeting underscored the growing desperation among hostage families. One former hostage accused Netanyahu of leaving others behind by refusing to make concessions, to which the Prime Minister replied that agreeing to Hamas's demands would hand the militant group a victory. "Caving to Hamas's demands, including the one regarding the Philadelphi Corridor, would mean Hamas wins the war," Netanyahu argued.
The Prime Minister's stance on the Philadelphi Corridor has become a significant obstacle in the negotiations. Israeli security chiefs have privately suggested that a full IDF withdrawal from the area might be manageable for the duration of the ceasefire, but Netanyahu remains unconvinced. A U.S. bridging proposal aimed at compromising on the issue has been put forward, but Hamas has yet to accept it, indicating its preference for a deal based on terms it presented earlier.
As the impasse continues, the situation on the ground remains dire. The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) recently recovered the bodies of six hostages who were killed in captivity, adding to the urgency of securing a deal before more lives are lost. The ongoing delays have led to public outcry, with one former hostage telling Netanyahu, "They're dying, and every day you're killing someone else."
In the meantime, Netanyahu has faced criticism for his handling of the crisis, particularly his failure to visit the hardest-hit areas near the Gaza border. "Do you know where Nir Oz is? Did you ever visit us?" one former hostage asked during the meeting, referencing a kibbutz that suffered significant losses during the October 7 attack.
Adding to the controversy, Netanyahu's wife, Sara Netanyahu, was also present at the meeting and sparked further tension by blaming the IDF for the situation. "A leader is responsible for the army," one former hostage retorted, underscoring the sense of betrayal felt by those who have lost loved ones.
