Hamas: No Ceasefire Agreement Without Withdrawing Israeli Army From Philadelphia Corridor

Israeli soldiers claim to have found a tunnel near Philadelphia Corridor. (Wikimedia Commons/Israel Defense Forces)

JAKARTA - Senior Hamas official Khalil al-Hayya said there could not be an agreement for a ceasefire in Gaza, without the withdrawal of Israeli troops from Philadelphia, Netzarim and Rafah Corridors.

"The Zionist regime intends to burn the entire region," he told Al Jazeera Monday, as quoted by IRNA September 2.

Al-Hayya stressed that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu considered Philadelphia corridors more important than Israeli hostages.

"Koridor is his top priority, because he considers prisoners worthless," said the Deputy Head of the Hamas Political Bureau.

He stressed that PM Netanyahu had rejected every proposal about the prisoner swap every day.

"We have received a proposal submitted by US President Joe Biden, however, Netanyahu set new requirements and accused Hamas of not paying attention to negotiations under new requirements," he said.

Al-Hayya's comments come after diplomatic efforts that have taken place over the past few months, failed to produce a ceasefire in Gaza in exchange for the release of about 100 prisoners who are still detained in the Palestinian territories.

PM Netanyahu himself faced growing criticism from Israeli officials and the public for his refusal to accept a ceasefire agreement. He recently set new conditions for the deal, saying Israel must maintain its control over Philadelphia corridors.

Philadelphia Corridor, a 14-kilometer (8.69 miles) demilitarized buffer zone along the border between the Gaza Strip and Egypt, remains one of the main critical points in negotiations between Israel and Hamas.

Both Hamas and Egypt opposed the deployment of Israeli troops in Philadelphia Corridor, but PM Netanyahu insisted it was necessary to stop the smuggling of weapons into Gaza.

Separately, medical sources in the Gaza Strip confirmed that the Palestinian death toll from the Israeli attacks since the latest conflict broke out on October 7, 2023 has risen to 40,786, while injuries have reached 94,224, with the majority of victims being women and children, quoted from WAFA.