Many reports have focused on the internal Israeli debate over the Philadelphia corridor, and whether maintaining it is essential to prevent Hamas from rebuilding its hold on power in Gaza.
However, Israel’s decisions are not made in a vacuum. Hamas is also demanding control of the border with Egypt. Hamas has controlled that border since 2007 and used it to build an unprecedented arsenal of rockets. It used this arsenal to carry out the largest massacre of Jews since the Holocaust.
It stands to reason that border control has been a key ingredient in Hamas’s strength and that is why it wants it back.
An article in Iran’s state-run IRNA media is clear on this point. “Khalil al-Hayya, a senior Hamas official, says that a ceasefire agreement in Gaza is not possible without the Israeli regime’s withdrawal from the Philadelphia, Netzarim and Rafah corridors.” When Hamas says something, it is not just rhetoric. Hamas clearly understands that the IDF’s control of these areas is preventing Hamas from controlling all of Gaza. Currently, Hamas controls the central Gaza camp area; Bureij, Maghazi, Deir al-Balah and Nuseirat, and controls areas in northern Gaza and Khan Younis.
However, Hamas control has been partially checked by IDF control of the corridors in southern Gaza and Netzarim in the center.
Israeli soldiers operate in the Gaza Strip amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, January 21, 2024. (credit: IDF SPOKESPERSON’S UNIT)
It is worth remembering that the IDF’s control of Netzarim and Philadelphi is not something that only happened in this war. The IDF took control of these areas in previous wars and operations. When Israel controlled Gaza from 1967 to 2005, control of these areas was key to securing Gaza.
In those days, especially in the 1980s and 1990s, Israel established communities in those areas to secure them. Israel also had communities in the Sinai near the Philadelphia border. Yamit was key in this area and key to securing the border. It was evacuated in 1982.
It should be noted that the IDF had to operate in the Philadelphi corridor during the Second Intifada to eradicate terrorist infrastructure. Hamas, founded in the late 1980s, has always understood the need to control the border area. Hamas knows Gaza, its key leadership comes almost entirely from Gaza. Therefore, Hamas understands that control of the border with Egypt and central Gaza is key to its return to power.
Hamas knows that there is an internal debate in Israel about keeping the Philadelphia corridor. It takes advantage of this and uses language designed to sow internal discord. For example, it accuses Israel’s leadership of seeing the corridor as “more important than Israeli captives.” In fact, it is Hamas that sees this area as more important. It is Hamas that took hostages. It is Hamas that used the border area to become stronger and launch a genocidal attack on Israel. It is Hamas that murdered the hostages.
In Israel, the debate is whether it is essential to have military units on the corridor route. Some think that Israel can return to the area. Others think that surveillance can be done remotely. History shows that this is generally not the case.
After 2005, there was also supposed to be a mechanism to monitor the border. The EU was supposed to have a role. Hamas managed to take control in 2007 and restrict any monitoring. Once Israel withdrew from Gaza in 2005, it did not want to return. This is how things have worked in the past and this is how it is likely to work in the future.
Hamas argues that Israel’s demands for control of the corridor are a new demand. The reality is that Hamas worked hard to prevent an Israeli operation in Rafah. In February and March, it used contacts, probably through Doha, to spread stories about the need for Israel to stop fighting during Ramadan. Then, in March and April, it tried to prevent an operation in Rafah by claiming that civilians could not evacuate Rafah. The US argued for a maritime humanitarian corridor.
Once Hamas had stalled long enough, it attacked IDF soldiers in Kerem Shalom. The IDF began the operation in Rafah in early May, having left Khan Younis in April. This allowed Hamas to move its forces from Rafah to Khan Younis. Hamas had essentially already bought time to prevent an operation in Rafah. It gained around six months in this regard. Hamas then demanded that any dialogue in Doha or Cairo meant it could keep the corridor. It made sure to cement this in talks that took place through July. Hamas then claimed to have agreed to this proposal, and said that Israel was now including Philadelphia in the mix.
Hamas propaganda
However, it is Hamas that has always exploited this area and it is clear from the beginning that Hamas has wanted to hold on to southern Gaza.
Now Hamas is spreading propaganda through the media in Iran and Doha that is designed to make it look like it is Israel that is being stubborn on the issue of the border with Egypt. But the reality is that this is Hamas’ policy. Hamas insists on controlling an area in Gaza that its forces have lost control of.
Hamas’ Rafah brigade has been defeated. It now wants Israel to return this area free of charge to Hamas, with Israel receiving nothing in return. It then wants Israel to pay for this land twice if Israel has to go back to stop the smuggling. This shows the arrogance and privilege of Hamas, and of its interlocutors residing in Doha. Hamas officials in Doha are being told to insist on controlling Philadelphia.
The IRNA report makes this clear indirectly. It says: “Netanyahu is also facing increasing criticism from Israeli officials and the public for his refusal to accept a ceasefire agreement. He has recently set a new condition for a deal, saying that Israel should maintain its control of the Philadelphia corridor, which is a 14-kilometer area along the Gaza-Egypt border.” The reality is that this is Hamas’s policy of insisting on the corridor.
Meanwhile, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi spoke with his Bulgarian counterpart Ivan Kondov. In the call, he said: “Iran supports any agreement that is accepted by the Palestinians and Hamas to establish a ceasefire in Gaza and pave the way for the delivery of humanitarian aid to the country.” [territorio]”, IRNA reported.
This is important because it shows how the Iranian diplomatic offensive is developing. Iran is making inroads into Europe and Central Asia with diplomatic initiatives and keeping Gaza in the spotlight. It is important to note that while Israel is having internal discussions, Hamas and the Iranians are maneuvering in the region.
