Saudi Arabia Condemns Israel's Ambition To Continue To Occupy Gaza-Egypt Border

The Israeli military detained Gazan civilians, Palestinians. (doc. Israel Defense Forces)

JAKARTA - Saudi Arabia condemns Israel's ambition to continue to occupy the borders of Pelestina in southern Gaza, which is Egypt's neighboring by placing its military in the area also called the Philadelphia corridor.

Citing Arab News, Wednesday, September 4, the condemnation came from the Saudi Arabian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Kemenlu) on Tuesday, September 3 evening after Prime Minister (PM) Benjamin Netanyahu said he would maintain the Israeli military in the corridor for the future.

"The Philadelphia Corridor or more precisely, the southern closing point (Gaza) must be in our hands. It must be closed. Any other arrangement will not guarantee the demilitarization we want," Netanyahu said recently.

Egypt has confirmed it will not accept Israel's presence along the corridor.

Control of the zone has been a major critical point in ceasefire negotiations and a deal to release hostage-taking in Israeli aggression in Gaza entering its eleventh month.

"The kingdom [Saudi Arabia] warns of that provocative statement and its consequences in weakening mediation efforts," the Saudi Arabian Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

Netanyahu's ambition to put his military in the corridor has irritated a number of Israeli allies who feel it could be a factor in the withdrawal of agreements in the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.

United States President Joe Biden also acknowledged Israel was not thinking ahead in ceasefire negotiations and the release of hostages.

Not long ago, when asked by reporters whether Netanyahu had done enough to secure an agreement to end the conflict, Joe Biden said: "No".

Previously, Benny Gantz, General of the Army who served in the Israeli war cabinet, finally resigned in June 2024, criticizing Netanyahu's stance on the Philadelphia corridor. He urged progress in the deal to free the hostages.

"The story is not about Philadelphia, but the lack of really strategic decision-making," Gantz said.