Why does Prime Minister Netanyahu insist on Israel managing the border between Gaza and Egypt?

As the Gaza conflict intensifies and the death toll among Palestinians approaches 41,000, the Philadelphia corridor has become a focal point of ceasefire negotiations.

In late May, Hamas and Israel reached aRetreat from Gaza, being held captive in Gaza by an armed grouprelease of approximately 90 prisoners、release of hundreds of Palestinians from Israeli prisonsseemed to be approaching an agreement

However, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu later added four non-negotiable conditions, including maintaining control of the Philadelphia Corridor, a 14km strip of land bordering Egypt.

On Monday, Prime Minister Netanyahu further stated: 'The axis of evil needs the Philadelphia Corridor.'

Therefore, we must control that area. Hamas also claims that we are not there.

In the years leading up to October 7th, Hamas may have been smuggling goods (potentially including weapons) through the Philadelphi route, but Israel was not interested in controlling it, an analyst told Al Jazeera.

For this reason, critics believe that Prime Minister Netanyahu's last-minute demand is more to prolong the Gaza war rather than a genuine concern for national security.

"Essentially, this is the excuse that Prime Minister Netanyahu is using at the moment," said Zachary Lockman, a Palestine-Israel expert at New York University, speaking to Al Jazeera.

"He's looking for any excuse to avoid hostages and a ceasefire agreement," added the expert.

Prime Minister Netanyahu is facing domestic criticism from figures like Defense Minister and fellow Likud party member Yoav Gallant.

"Sacrificing the lives of hostages to prioritize the Philadelphi Corridor is morally dishonorable," Gallant reportedly told ministers, as reported by The Times of Israel. Some military personnel also criticize Netanyahu's decision from a strategic standpoint.

Israeli Chief of Staff Aviv Kohavi stated that deploying soldiers to the Philadelphia Corridor would expose them to unnecessary risks.

According to analysts, Prime Minister Netanyahu understands that he is acting on borrowed time, and the end of the war could mean the end of the Prime Minister's term.

Former Israeli Ambassador and government advisor, Alon Pinkas, told Al Jazeera, "Prime Minister Netanyahu has completely failed in national security and foreign policy. However, he is a good politician."

This is why he continues to ignite multiple conflicts until he believes he can win the next election - in Gaza, the occupied West Bank, Lebanon, and elsewhere.

On October 7th, Hamas attacked southern Israel, resulting in 1,139 deaths and around 240 people taken as prisoners. Approximately 90 prisoners are still held in Gaza, with most believed to be alive.

He has not reached that point yet, and Israeli public opinion has been shifting since October.

Egypt, which serves as a mediator in the ceasefire negotiations, opposes Israel's deployment of troops to this corridor because it violates the agreement between the two countries.

There are also domestic issues. The Egyptian people are strong supporters of Palestine. Many citizens want the government to exert more power and are likely to be dissatisfied with the presence of Israeli troops at the border.

However, Egypt, as one of the few Arab countries that has normalized relations with Israel, will not refuse Israel's Philadelphia demand and will not threaten to end these agreements.

In 1979, the two countries signed a peace treaty the year after the famous Camp David Accords, which brought together then-Egyptian President Anwar Sadat and Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin.

This first peace agreement between Israel and Arab countries allowed Egypt to receive support and financial assistance from the United States: $2.1 billion annually (including $1.3 billion in military aid and $815 million in economic aid).

As Rockman says, "Egypt is making a lot of noise, but they don't want to abandon (Camp David) because of their ties with the United States."

However, Egypt is increasingly gaining influence over Israel's actions in the West Bank.

In May, after Israel ignored international warnings not to launch attacks in the southern Gaza Strip's Rafah Governorate, Egypt joined the International Court of Justice in a genocide lawsuit against Israel in South Africa. Approximately half of the population in Rafah has been forced to evacuate.

On Tuesday, Egypt criticized Prime Minister Netanyahu, stating that he was reaching for excuses to delay ceasefire negotiations, deceiving the Israeli people.

The day before, Prime Minister Netanyahu accused Egypt of failing to secure the Philadelphia Corridor, allowing tunnels to be dug underneath and supplying 'oxygen' to Hamas.

Mr. Rockman stated, 'Egypt is clearly dissatisfied with this and wants some sort of agreement,' and added, 'basically, they are out of control unless Prime Minister Netanyahu is persuaded.'

However, despite the unhappy neighbors and domestic and international criticisms, Prime Minister Netanyahu has not wavered on the demands concerning the Philadelphia Corridor so far.