Israel is open to negotiating the issue of control of Gaza’s border with Egypt after the end of the war with Hamas, Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer said, though must maintain troops there for now to prevent the group re-arming during a proposed truce.

In an interview with Bloomberg TV, Dermer said the question of Israel’s grip on the so-called Philadelphi Corridor is among around a half-dozen disputes holding up a cease-fire agreement with Hamas. Overseen by the US, Qatar and Egypt have been attempting to broker a deal between the two sides for several months without success.