“When you go out to war against your enemies, and see horses and chariots and an army larger than your own, you shall not be afraid of them, for the LORD your God is with you, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt.”
Deut 20:1
Shabbat Shalom!
One of the main points of contention in the hostage deal is the Philadelphia Corridor. This 14 km strip forms the southern border between the Gaza Strip and Egypt.
Israel originally held the corridor. In 2005, when Israel pulled out all Israeli communities and the IDF from the Gaza Strip, the government handed control of the border to Egypt. They established an agreement called the Philadelphia Accord to ensure the strip would not become militarized. Under the agreement, a limited amount of military equipment was allowed to maintain security, and 750 Egyptian police were deployed to prevent smuggling.
Since that time, Egypt has reportedly been destroying any smuggling tunnels they’ve found more by flooding some of them. However, since the incursion into Rafah, the IDF has discovered around 150 tunnel routes along the border! Some of these tunnels have been large enough for vehicles to drive through.
Netanyahu has been adamant about holding onto the Philadelphia Corridor, as it has been a crucial source of military supplies for Hamas. It was through these routes that Hamas was able to arm itself and carry out the attack on October 7th, as well as the ongoing conflict. Returning control of the corridor to Hamas could lead to a situation where they rearm and attack Israel again.
In the negotiations over a deal for the hostages’ release, Hamas is demanding that Israel return control of the Philadelphia Corridor to them. Doing so could mean another future war. As a result, the hostage deal is at a deadlock, leaving the hostages stranded. Additionally, they are being used as human shields, making it nearly impossible to rescue them. Pray for the IDF and the leadership, as we need strategies from heaven. ????
Many Blessings,
Chaim Malespin
Aliyah Return Centre
