Netanyahu says map he displayed showing Western Sahara as separate from Morocco was a mistake

Benjamin Netanyahu's office has said that the Israeli prime minister "mistakenly" displayed a map showing Western Sahara as separate to Morocco during a news conference earlier this week.

Netanyahu showed a map of the Middle East and North Africa region during a press conference on Monday, in which he explained to reporters why he believed Israel must control the Philadelphi Corridor - the buffer zone between the Gaza Strip and Egypt. 

The map labelled both Morocco and Western Sahara, sparking a backlash on Moroccan social media. Rabat has claimed sovereignty over the disputed territory since 1975. 

"On the 'Atlas' map presented during the Prime Minister's statement today, the name 'Western Sahara' was mistakenly displayed in the territory of Morocco," Netanyahu's office said in a statement published on X.

Read more: Netanyahu says map he displayed showing Western Sahara as separate from Morocco was a mistake