Netanyahu Insists On Continued Israeli Presence In Volatile Gaza Corridor

TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says he will continue to insist on maintaining an Israeli presence along Gaza’s border with Egypt as part of any cease-fire deal.

Netanyahu’s demand to remain in the Philadelphi corridor has been a major sticking point in cease-fire talks with Hamas. The Islamic militant group is demanding a full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza as part of any deal that would free the dozens of hostages it is holding in Gaza.

Netanyahu said that if Israel agrees to withdraw, even temporarily, the international community will never allow it to return.

“It determines our entire future,” he told a news conference. “This is the oxygen of Hamas.”

Netanyahu is under heavy pressure to reach a deal after Hamas militants killed six hostages, shortly before Israeli troops reached the tunnel where they were being held.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. AP’s earlier story follows below.

TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) — A rare general strike in Israel to protest the failure to return hostages held in Gaza led to disruptions around the country on Monday, while U.S. President Joe Biden added to the pressure by saying Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu isn’t doing enough to reach a deal for a cease-fire.

The strike was ignored in some areas, reflecting deep political divisions in Israel after nearly 11 months of fighting.

Hundreds of thousands of Israelis had poured into the streets late Sunday in grief and anger after six more hostages were found dead in Gaza. It appeared to be the largest protest since the start of the war. The families and much of the public blamed Netanyahu, saying the hostages could have been returned alive in a deal with Hamas.

But others support Netanyahu’s drive to