Netanyahu demands Israeli control of Gaza territory on Egypt border
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu demanded Thursday that Israel retain control of key Gaza territory along the border with Egypt as part of any accord to suspend the war with Hamas.
The condition conflicts with Hamas's position that Israel must withdraw from all Gaza territory after a ceasefire.
Speaking after the return of Israeli negotiators from talks with mediators in Qatar, Netanyahu said Israel needed control to stop weapons reaching Hamas from Egypt -- one of four conditions for a deal with the Palestinian militants.
![The Gaza-Egypt border seen on March 30, 2024 amid the ongoing conflict in the Palestinian territory between Israel and the militant group Hamas](/sites/default/files/styles/article_header/public/2024-04/fbb5e5b15dbc7762195eda4ffe6888b10804b59b.jpg?h=69f2b9d0&itok=PPPlo2Ye)