 israeli prime minister benjamin netanyahu made a surprise visit to troops in southern gaza thursday saying it was essential that israel keep control of a strip of territory along the territory's border with egypt just days before he was set to give a speech to the u s congress in his comments at gaza southernmost city of rafa netanyahu sounded a tone of triumph in the campaign against tamas and underscored the differences that still remain in attempts to reach a ceasefire a u s backed outline for a deal calls for an eventual full israeli withdrawal from gaza