Factbox: Gaza’s Philadelphi Corridor and Its Importance to Ceasefire Talks by Reuters

The status of a narrow strip of land known as the Philadelphi corridor along Gaza’s border with Egypt has become a significant obstacle in negotiations for a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas following nearly a year of conflict.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu insists that Israel must maintain a military presence in the corridor to prevent it from being utilized by Hamas for smuggling weapons into Gaza. In contrast, Egypt is urging Israel to withdraw, while Hamas is calling for an Israeli exit from all of Gaza.

### What is the Philadelphi Corridor?

The Philadelphi corridor is approximately 14 kilometers (9 miles) long, extending from the Mediterranean Sea in the northwest to the Israeli-controlled Kerem Shalom crossing in the southeast. Israel refers to this area as the Philadelphi corridor, while Palestinians and Egyptians often call it the Salah al-Din route.

Historically, securing this border area has been a key concern for Israel. Following its withdrawal from Gaza in 2005, attacks on Israeli forces patrolling the corridor were frequent. As part of the withdrawal, Israel and Egypt reached an agreement to deploy a 750-member Egyptian border guard to help combat smuggling and militant activities at the border. Control of the Gazan side then transferred to the Palestinian Authority until Hamas took control in 2007.

### Who Controls It and What Does Israel Want?

Israel reclaimed the Philadelphi corridor in May during its maneuver into southern Gaza, near Rafah. The Israeli government asserts that it needs to safeguard this area as Hamas has historically used tunnels connecting Gaza to Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula to transport weapons and other prohibited items. Even after Israel’s withdrawal, a network of these tunnels continued to operate. An Israeli representative at the International Court of Justice recently stated that around 50 tunnels were identified in Rafah following Israel’s military actions.

Egypt claims to have dismantled the tunnel network from its side as part of its efforts against an Islamist insurgency in northern Sinai, establishing a buffer zone and fortifications to prevent smuggling.

### Why is the Corridor Important for Palestinians?

Since Hamas’ takeover of Gaza, both Israel and Egypt have imposed blockades on the territory, severely limiting movement through the Rafah crossing, situated on the Philadelphi corridor. This crossing is the only point on Gaza’s borders not directly managed by Israel. Despite significant restrictions, it has served as a vital route for Palestinians, allowing those with security approval to travel and facilitating trade.

After the outbreak of conflict on October 7 last year, the Rafah crossing became a crucial gateway for humanitarian aid and an evacuation route for individuals requiring urgent medical treatment. However, Israel’s military advancements in May led to the closure of this crossing, drastically curtailing humanitarian aid and medical evacuations.

### What’s Egypt’s Position?

Egypt maintains that the corridor is supported by its 1979 peace treaty with Israel, insisting that Israel withdraw from the area and that a Palestinian presence at Rafah be reinstated. The Israeli military’s maneuvers have complicated Egypt’s role in facilitating cross-border access, a position that previously granted Cairo influence over Hamas.

This situation is particularly sensitive for Egypt due to its historical conflicts with Israel, concerns about the potential influx of Palestinians into Sinai, and the overarching risk of militancy. While Egypt has developed working relationships with Hamas, the group is an offshoot of the Muslim Brotherhood, which has been outlawed in Egypt since the army’s ousting of President Mohamed Mursi in 2013. Early in the current hostilities, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi warned that if large numbers of Palestinians were forced across the border, Sinai could become a base for attacks on Israel.

### Why is the Corridor a Focus of Ceasefire Talks?

Israel’s intention to maintain troops in both the Philadelphi corridor and the Netzarim corridor, which runs south of Gaza City, has become a sticking point in ceasefire negotiations. Throughout the discussions, Hamas has emphasized its core demands for a permanent ceasefire and a full withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza. The organization wants to facilitate the movement of displaced Palestinians, some of whom have relocated from northern to southern Gaza, through the Netzarim corridor during any ceasefire phase.

Hamas accuses Netanyahu of introducing new demands as an excuse to prolong the conflict. Egypt is mediating the ceasefire talks alongside the United States and Qatar and has expressed frustration with Israeli claims regarding the security of its border with Gaza.

Negotiators have explored potential surveillance systems that might enable Israel to scale back its military presence if a ceasefire is agreed upon, as well as the possibility of deploying international observers at the border. Nonetheless, Netanyahu has stated that Israel will not withdraw from the corridor in the initial phase of a ceasefire and would only consider a permanent ceasefire afterward, contingent on guarantees concerning the corridor’s security.