Israel must control Gaza border with Egypt, Netanyahu says in Rafah

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu paid a visit to Rafah in the south of the Gaza Strip Thursday, his first known trip to the area on the Egyptian border since the Israeli military took control of it in early May.

In a video from Rafah flanked by military personnel, Netanyahu doubled down on his demand that Israel maintain control and a military presence in Rafah and the Philadelphi Corridor bordering Egypt to prevent Hamas from smuggling weapons and other materials used for military purposes into the Strip. 

"The military pressure [the Israeli army] are exerting right here, at Hamas' throat … helps us advance the hostage deal — including our demand to release a maximum number of hostages." He pushed back on the notion that this approach will delay a deal. 

But according to a Walla report on Wednesday, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant is pushing for a solution that would offer Israel control over the area via technological solutions, monitoring systems and underground barriers and would not include a permanent troop presence there.