The Israeli security cabinet has voted overwhelmingly, 8-1, for the IDF to remain in the Philadelphi Corridor, in a major policy declaration amid ongoing ceasefire talks.
Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant opposed the plan, as IDF troops remaining in the critical strip is one of the items seen to be holding up a ceasefire and hostage release deal.
However Gallant was alone in rejecting the plan, with all other cabinet members siding with Netanyahu and voting in favor, aside from Ben-Gvir who abstained.
According to sources, cabinet Ministers believe making this position clear actually brings a deal closer, as it sends a clear message to Hamas that they will have to compromise to get a deal signed.
Israel has agreed to pull IDF troops out of the populated areas of Gaza in a ceasefire deal, but has rejected Hamas calls to leave the Philadlphi corridor along the border with Egypt, and the Netzarim corridor in central Gaza.
Cabinet members also pushed back on the idea that any delay in closing a deal would result in the death of hostages, saying that it is believed that most hostages who have dies in captivity were killed or died within the first few months of the war, and not more recently.
However the Hostage and Missing Families Forum accused Bibi of bringing forth this cabinet vote to block a deal, saying: “After almost a year of neglect, Netanyahu does not miss any opportunity to ensure that there will be no deal.”
{Matzav.com}
