Netanyahu's denial of the Philadelphia corridor challenges the peace process in the Middle East.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has categorically denied rumors suggesting that Israel intends to withdraw from the Philadelphia corridor, located on the border of Gaza with Egypt. This statement comes amid a complex political and religious scenario that is testing Netanyahu's government and keeping the region on edge. According to information published by the Reuters news agency, there was speculation that Israel and Egypt were negotiating an electronic surveillance system that would allow Israeli troops to withdraw from the border in case of reaching a ceasefire agreement with Hamas. However, the Office of the Prime Minister of Israel has communicated that Netanyahu has made it clear that Israel will remain in the Philadelphia corridor, an instruction that has been conveyed to the negotiating teams and representatives of the United States. Control of the Philadelphia corridor is of utmost importance to Israel, as this area includes the Rafah border crossing into Egypt, through which a large part of humanitarian aid used to enter Gaza. Additionally, Israel has identified at least 20 tunnels in this region that served as smuggling routes for weapons used by Hamas, reinforcing Israel's determination to maintain its presence in the area. Meanwhile, Hamas has accused Netanyahu of introducing new demands in the ceasefire negotiations, which they claim are hindering the possibility of reaching an agreement. The Islamist group has reiterated that the management of the Gaza Strip after the conflict is an issue that solely concerns the Palestinians, proposing the formation of a national and non-partisan government to take control of the enclave alongside occupied West Bank. Recently, the American newspaper The Washington Post reported, citing US officials, that Hamas and Israel were in agreement to transfer control of Gaza to a Palestinian force backed by the Palestinian National Authority and supported by moderate Arab states, which could provide a potential solution for the region. Negotiations to reach a ceasefire agreement are at a crucial point, with the possibility of also releasing Israeli hostages in the Strip. Despite this optimism, all parties involved acknowledge that there are still significant obstacles to overcome in this complicated negotiation process that defines the future of the region.