Netanyahu Announces Increased Military Presence on Philadelphi Route Amidst Tensions
Israeli Prime Minister signals possible resumption of hostilities, with backing from U.S. leaders
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has announced an increase in the military presence on the Philadelphi Route, a strategic area along the border between Gaza and Egypt.
This statement comes as he emphasized the provisional nature of the current ceasefire agreement, threatening a robust resumption of hostilities if necessary.
In a speech delivered on Saturday evening, Netanyahu reiterated his commitment to achieving the objectives set during the conflict, including the return of Israeli nationals from Gaza and the dismantling of Hamas.
He claimed to have received full support from U.S. President Joe Biden and incoming President Donald Trump for all measures necessary to fulfill these objectives, and suggested that Trump pledged to release military equipment that had been withheld during Biden’s administration.
Netanyahu stated contrary to various reports, the Israeli military will maintain control over the Philadelphi Route and additional forces will be deployed to the area.
This includes an increase in troops around Gaza's perimeter buffer zone.
Highlighting the achievements of the Israeli military campaign in Gaza, Netanyahu remarked that it had transformed the geopolitical dynamics of the Middle East, isolating Hamas and impacting the broader Iranian axis, while asserting the conflict is far from over.
In response to domestic criticism regarding the ceasefire, Netanyahu stated that the decisions taken consider national interests and lacked further elaboration.
He also mentioned that those released as part of the ceasefire agreement would be relocated either to Gaza or abroad, referring to the Palestinian prisoners slated for release.
Prior to his speech, Netanyahu issued a statement conditioning the prisoner exchange program, which is part of the ceasefire, on receiving a list of Israeli detainees expected to be released the following day.
According to reports from Agence France-Presse, the first exchange of detainees is not scheduled to occur until at least 14:30 GMT on Sunday, approximately six hours after the enactment of the ceasefire.
The ceasefire agreement aims to conclude over 15 months of destructive conflict that resulted in approximately 150,000 casualties in Gaza.
In the initial six-week phase, it mandates the release of 33 Israeli detainees in exchange for 737 Palestinian prisoners.
This statement comes as he emphasized the provisional nature of the current ceasefire agreement, threatening a robust resumption of hostilities if necessary.
In a speech delivered on Saturday evening, Netanyahu reiterated his commitment to achieving the objectives set during the conflict, including the return of Israeli nationals from Gaza and the dismantling of Hamas.
He claimed to have received full support from U.S. President Joe Biden and incoming President Donald Trump for all measures necessary to fulfill these objectives, and suggested that Trump pledged to release military equipment that had been withheld during Biden’s administration.
Netanyahu stated contrary to various reports, the Israeli military will maintain control over the Philadelphi Route and additional forces will be deployed to the area.
This includes an increase in troops around Gaza's perimeter buffer zone.
Highlighting the achievements of the Israeli military campaign in Gaza, Netanyahu remarked that it had transformed the geopolitical dynamics of the Middle East, isolating Hamas and impacting the broader Iranian axis, while asserting the conflict is far from over.
In response to domestic criticism regarding the ceasefire, Netanyahu stated that the decisions taken consider national interests and lacked further elaboration.
He also mentioned that those released as part of the ceasefire agreement would be relocated either to Gaza or abroad, referring to the Palestinian prisoners slated for release.
Prior to his speech, Netanyahu issued a statement conditioning the prisoner exchange program, which is part of the ceasefire, on receiving a list of Israeli detainees expected to be released the following day.
According to reports from Agence France-Presse, the first exchange of detainees is not scheduled to occur until at least 14:30 GMT on Sunday, approximately six hours after the enactment of the ceasefire.
The ceasefire agreement aims to conclude over 15 months of destructive conflict that resulted in approximately 150,000 casualties in Gaza.
In the initial six-week phase, it mandates the release of 33 Israeli detainees in exchange for 737 Palestinian prisoners.
