ANKARA

Israel's Security Cabinet has approved the continued presence of the army in the Philadelphi Corridor along the border between Gaza and Egypt, the Israeli Public Broadcasting Corporation reported Friday.

The daily Haaretz also reported that “eight members of the security cabinet voted in favor, while Defense Minister Yoav Gallant voted against, and National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir abstained.”

In response, the Hostages and Missing Families Forum criticized Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, stating that he "doesn't miss an opportunity to guarantee there won't be a deal."

"There is not a day that Netanyahu does not act to endanger the return of all the hostages,” the families said in a statement.

The Philadelphi Corridor, a 14-kilometer (8.7-mile) demilitarized buffer zone along the border between the Gaza Strip and Egypt, remains a critical issue in ongoing cease-fire and prisoner exchange negotiations between Israel and Hamas.

For months, the US, Qatar, and Egypt have been trying to broker an agreement between Israel and Hamas to ensure a prisoner exchange, establish a cease-fire, and allow humanitarian aid to enter Gaza.

However, mediation efforts have stalled due to Netanyahu’s refusal to meet Hamas’ demands to stop the war.

Israel has continued its offensive on the Gaza Strip following an attack by the Palestinian group Hamas on Oct. 7, despite a UN Security Council resolution calling for an immediate cease-fire.

The assault has resulted in over 40,600 Palestinian deaths, mostly women and children, and more than 93,800 injuries, according to local health authorities.

An ongoing blockade of Gaza has led to severe shortages of food, clean water, and medicine, leaving much of the region in ruins.

Israel faces accusations of genocide at the International Court of Justice, which has ordered a halt to military operations in the southern city of Rafah, where over one million Palestinians had sought refuge before the area was invaded on May 6.

*Writing by Ikram Kouachi