Israeli military withdraws from key Gaza corridor

The Israeli military has withdrawn from the Netzarim corridor in Gaza, a strategic area that bisects the enclave, Hamas announced on Sunday, a move was expected under the ceasefire agreement between Israel and the Palestinian militant group.

An Israeli security source, speaking on the condition of anonymity, confirmed the Israeli military was withdrawing from its positions in central Gaza.

Israeli troops had already scaled down their presence in the area, and Hamas-run police forces have since been deployed to manage the flow of Palestinians crossing through.

Since the early months of the Gaza conflict, Israeli forces had occupied the approximately four-mile-long corridor south of Gaza City, stretching from the Israeli border to the Mediterranean Sea. This corridor effectively cut off Gaza’s northern communities, including its largest metropolitan area, from the south.

In recent weeks, thousands of Palestinians have streamed through the corridor, returning to their homes in the north after seeking shelter in southern Gaza during the conflict. Many who crossed back described their shock at the devastation, discovering destroyed communities and, in some cases, human remains in areas previously occupied by Israeli forces.

Northern Gaza has been severely damaged by Israel’s military offensive. Some returning residents, finding their homes in ruins, have gone back south, while others have set up makeshift tents where their homes once stood.

Former American soldiers employed as private contractors have been deployed to inspect vehicles passing through the corridor in recent weeks following the ceasefire agreement after more than 15 months of the conflict.

The ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, which came into effect on January 19, has three phases. The first phase lasts 42 days. Under the agreement, Israel committed to withdrawing its forces from the area. With the first-phase truce now past its midpoint, negotiations mediated by Qatar, Egypt, and the United States are set to determine whether the ceasefire will continue into its second phase, which would include the release of more hostages and Palestinian detainees.

(With input from Reuters and Xinhua)