In light of statements in Israel regarding the need to regain control or act in one way or another along the Philadelphi route on the Gaza-Egypt border, the Palestinian Authority stresses that it will not agree to the deployment of Israeli security forces in this area.
Ramallah says that the PA leadership opposes an Israeli presence in the Philadelphi area, and rejects the ideas raised on the Israeli side. Palestinian sources note that the position of the PA leadership is accepted by the Egyptians and coordinated with them. PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas met with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Assisi last week in Amman as part of the attempts to end the war in Gaza and coordinate positions ahead of the arrangements the day after.
Philadelphi axis (archive), photo: AP
"We will not accept that Israel will control one centimeter of the land of the Gaza Strip, which is an inseparable part of the homeland of the Palestinian people, and only we have the authority to decide who will rule and what will happen there," said Mahmoud al-Bash, Abbas' advisor. "What will happen in the entire Gaza Strip is our responsibility, that of the PA, of the PLO, and of the State of Palestine. Israel does not need to intervene, and we will not agree to the possibility of an Israeli presence in our territory, and this includes the Gaza side of the Philadelphi area. This is unacceptable to us. These are our borders, this is Palestinian land."
The Palestinian official added, "This is not up for discussion. You look at the small details instead of thinking big about what you need to do, which is to end the occupation and give the Palestinian people what they deserve. Without this, the conflict will not end." It should be noted that after the disengagement from the Gaza Strip, Israel left the Philadelphi Route. The PA was present on the Palestinian side of the route and at the Rafah crossing until the Hamas takeover in the summer of 2007.
Mahmoud Abbas demands control of the Gaza Strip, photo: Reuters
Palestinian sources note that the Palestinian Authority sees itself as bearing ultimate responsibility for the Gaza Strip, and as such, it is the one that must manage the border crossings freely and without Israeli restrictions. "Israel's presence on the ground is a constant source of tension and concern for the Palestinian side. If there is a deployment of Israeli forces there [on the southern border of the Gaza Strip], it will cause instability because there will always be those who will try to attack them and take action to remove them," they explained.
"If you want political stability, it means that several things have to be fulfilled: an Israeli withdrawal and the lifting of the siege on Gaza, and the return of the PA. Without this, the PA will not be able to work in the Gaza Strip because otherwise it will be perceived as a tool of Israel and an agent working for Israel's security interests."
During the war, Prime Minister Netanyahu addressed the issue of the Philadelphi axis, saying in one of his statements, "We will not end the war without closing this loophole." In an earlier statement, he noted that "the Philadelphi route must be in our hands and must be closed."
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