An Israeli military presence in the Philadelphi corridor is crucial to maintain security in the Jewish state, Israel’s deputy ambassador to the United States told Newsmax, Wednesday.

Eliav Benjamin said on “The Record With Greta Van Susteren,” “Yes, we have to have presence on the ground because that border between Israel, between the Sinai in Egypt and Gaza, has been the place where Gazans have received, and Hamas has received, and smuggled in their arms, their people, the ammunition and everything else.”

The nearly nine-mile strip of land in southern Gaza bordering Egypt has become a sticking point in cease-fire talks between Israel and Hamas. It includes the Rafah border crossing, which lets food and supplies into Gaza. However, Israel says Hamas is using the area to smuggle weapons and people.

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