US says alternative security force won’t be necessary in Philadelphi, apparently coming at odds with PM

The Biden administration says an “alternative security force” won’t be necessary for securing the Philadelphi Corridor.

Asked about long-term arrangements to secure the Egypt-Gaza border during a briefing with reporters, a senior administration official says the US has been working with Egypt on solutions for months.

“We think we can fully account for Israel’s security needs on that corridor in ways that will be almost unprecedented, and that does not require some alternative security force,” the official says.

The official doesn’t specify whether he is talking about phase one or phase two, but he appears to be talking about the latter.

However, this would come at odds with comments made earlier today by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu who said that Israel will only agree to withdraw from the Philadelphi Corridor if an alternative security force replaces the IDF in ensuring that the border stretch is secure.

The official adds that arrangements have also been made to allow for the reopening of the Rafah Crossing in phase one of the deal. The gate has been closed since Israel took over the Palestinian side in May, and Cairo has refused to reopen its side until Israel withdraws.

Appearing to explain why a security force won’t be necessary along the corridor, the senior US official argues that the area northwest of the Rafah Crossing is “very secure” and that arrangements will be put in place to detect tunnels throughout the entirety of the area. Southeast of the Rafah Crossing to Israel’s Kerem Shalom Crossing is less of a concern because the area is less populated, the official maintains.