Israel has begun to withdraw its troops from the Netzarim Corridor, a critical military zone that has segregated northern Gaza from the southern region, as part of a cease-fire agreement with Hamas, reports indicate. This development was confirmed by officials from both sides on Sunday.
Cease-fire implications and Hamas’s response
The Netzarim Corridor was initially established by Israel early in its military engagement with Hamas, effectively restricting citizens displaced in the southern areas from returning to the north. Following the troop withdrawal, Hamas spokesperson Abdel Latif Al-Qanoua remarked that this action demonstrates that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s aspiration for a “total victory” is merely an “illusion,” as reported by the Associated Press.
As part of the cease-fire agreement reached last month, Israel has committed to vacate the six-kilometer military zone and other populated areas within the Gaza Strip. This deal also entails a gradual release of hostages taken during Hamas’s surprise attack on Israel on October 7, 2023. To date, there have been five exchanges of detainees, with the most recent occurring on Saturday.
Concerns over the cease-fire’s future
Despite these developments, many details of the cease-fire pact remain undisclosed, leading to rising apprehensions regarding both parties’ readiness to commence the second phase of the agreement. This phase is expected to involve an extension of the cease-fire, the release of all Israeli hostages, and a complete Israeli withdrawal from Gaza. In a notable move, families of the hostages have approached the Israeli High Court of Justice, seeking to obtain at least partial disclosure of the agreement’s content.
Israeli officials have stated intentions to engage in technical discussions regarding the second phase of the cease-fire following Netanyahu’s return from the United States. However, skepticism looms among critics, who doubt the prime minister’s commitment to advancing the truce.
In the meantime, the Israeli army has initiated new military operations against Arab citizens in the West Bank. Reports from the Palestinian health ministry confirm that two women were killed by Israeli fire in the Nur Shams refugee camp on Sunday.
Moreover, Egypt’s foreign ministry announced it will convene an emergency Arab summit to address Palestinian issues, particularly in light of widespread discontent following U.S. President Donald Trump’s proposed plans for Gaza.