US Cannot Dictate Gaza Outcome
TownhallMay 19
Gaza: Israel Says It Controls Corridor Along Egyptian Border
Above: Israeli armored personnel carriers move along the border with the Gaza Strip on May 29, 2024 in Southern Israel. Image copyright: Amir Levy/Stringer/Getty Images News via Getty Images
The Facts
Israeli military spokesperson Daniel Hagari said on Wednesday that it had "operational" control over the entire Philadelphi Corridor, a strip of Gazan territory that runs along the Egyptian border. However, Israeli forces do not seem to have a physical presence along the entire border.
Israel has also continued to launch raids into Rafah, with Israeli forces reportedly advancing into Tel al-Sultan, Yibna, and Shaboura before withdrawing back to the Philadelphi Corridor. Hagari said that the corridor was "an oxygen line for Hamas," as it facilitated the smuggling of weapons into Gaza.
The Spin
Pro-establishment narrative
Israel must be able to defend itself from terrorist attacks from Gaza or elsewhere, and the US is committed to preventing malicious actors from threatening Israel's legitimate concerns. However, the humanitarian situation in Gaza has gotten out of hand, and the Biden administration's red lines are clear. Netanyahu must keep his promises and work with US allies to find a resolution to this conflict.
Pro-Israel narrative
The battle for Rafah is the most important battle of this war. Israeli forces are focusing on the Philadelphi corridor, which straddles the Egyptian border, as this region is crucial in preventing Hamas from rebuilding its clandestine supply lines into Gaza. Indeed, Israel must continue to push forward in Rafah, as it is the only way to defeat Hamas.
Pro-Palestine narrative
It should be clear after almost eight months of grinding brutality that Israel's true goal is to destroy Gaza and starve its people. The Biden administration, which has obscured its support for the Rafah offensive, has helped Israel destroy Gaza at every step of the way — even providing the bombs that burned dozens of women and children alive on Sunday. Israel is committing daily massacres in Gaza, and the US is fully complicit.