US Calls PM Netanyahu's Statement Regarding Philadelphia Corridor Difficulties Hostage Negotiations

JAKARTA - The United States government under President Joe Biden said Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's remarks regarding plans to maintain Israeli troops in Philadelphia Corridor indefinitely, complicating ongoing ceasefire negotiations and hostages.

"I've never been involved in negotiations where every day there are public statements about the details of the negotiations. It makes it difficult. The less it says about certain issues, the better," a senior US Government official said.

"Determining a concrete position in the midst of negotiations is not always helpful," the official said in what appears to be one of the first criticisms of Prime Minister Netanyahu's comments on the Philadelphia Corridor.

To date, US officials have avoided commenting more directly on the prime minister's comments.

The official also criticized certain Israeli ministers who claimed, "the negotiated agreement somehow sacrificed Israel's security."

"That's basically not true at all. We have taken into account Israel's security concerns in these negotiations, and if anything, not reaching this deal is more of a threat to Israel's long-term security than actually finalizing the deal and that includes the Philadelphia Corridor issue," the senior government official stressed.

The official did not identify Israeli ministers, but he appeared to refer to far-right cabinet members Itamar Ben Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich, who had vowed to oppose and bring down the government if the framework set by Uncle Sam's country in May was accepted.

As previously reported, PM Netanyahu confirmed that he would not withdraw Israeli troops from the corridors that are buffer zones in southern Gaza bordering Egypt, saying it was used by Hamas and militant groups to smuggle weapons.

He said Israel would only agree to a permanent ceasefire in Gaza that guarantees the border area between southern Gaza and Egypt would never be used again by Hamas.

"Until that happens, we will remain there," he told a news conference in Jerusalem.

On the other hand, militant group Hamas said Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu attempted to thwart an agreement insisting Israel would not withdraw from Philadelphia corridor in southern Gaza.

"We warn against being caught in Netanyahu's trap and deception, as he uses negotiations to prolong aggression against our people," the statement said.