Despite PM’s assertions, Israel told mediators it would withdraw from Philadelphi in deal’s 2nd phase

Israeli negotiators told mediators in recent days that they still support a complete withdrawal of the IDF from the Philadelphi Corridor in the second phase of the hostage deal, despite Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s comments on Monday that Jerusalem must maintain a military presence there indefinitely, the Kan public broadcaster reports.

Confirming a Haaretz report, an Arab diplomat tells The Times of Israel that hours before Netanyahu’s press conference, Mossad chief David Barnea flew urgently to Doha yesterday in order to inform Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani of Jerusalem’s position.

Notably, Netanyahu’s office does not deny the reports.

It instead argues that the security cabinet has not yet discussed the second phase of the deal.

The US said earlier today that Israel has agreed to the latest proposal, which requires the IDF to withdraw from heavily populated areas along the Philadelphi Corridor during the first, six-week phase of the deal. The statements from Biden administration spokespeople left open the possibility for Israeli troops remaining in other parts of the corridor that are not adjacent to heavily populated areas of the Egypt-Gaza border-stretch.

After US President Joe Biden said Sunday that he was close to presenting a final proposal to the sides by the end of the week, the Kan report says the Washington plans to do so by Friday.