Israel withdraws troops from key Gaza corridor under fragile cease-fire

Israel is withdrawing troops from the corridor that has cut northern Gaza from the southern part of the enclave as part of the cease-fire deal with Hamas, according to media reports on Sunday that cited officials from both sides of the conflict.

The Netzarim Corridor was established by Israel as a military zone at an early stage of the war against Hamas and prevented Gaza citizens displaced in the southern region from returning to the north.

Hamas spokesperson Abdel Latif Al-Qanoua said that the withdrawal proves that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s goal of a “total victory” is an “illusion,” the Associated Press reported. 

Israel committed to free up the 6-kilometer military zone and other populated areas in the Gaza Strip in a deal struck last month with Hamas. The agreement foresees the gradual release of the hostages the militant group captured during its attack on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023. So far, there have been five exchanges of detainees, the latest on Saturday.

However, the details of the cease-fire accord are not fully public and concerns are growing about the two sides’ willingness to enter the second phase of the deal, which would include an extension of the cease-fire, the release of all Israeli hostages and a full Israeli withdrawal from the Gaza Strip. Two families of hostages have petitioned the Israeli High Court of Justice to share the agreement’s contents at least with the prisoners’ relatives, Haaretz reported.

According to the Israeli outlet, government officials said publicly that they are going to enter a technical discussion on the cease-fire’s second phase after Netanyahu comes back from the United States, while critics said they do not believe the prime minister will continue in implementing the truce.

The Israeli army is already conducting new military operations against Arab citizens in the West Bank. Israeli fire killed two women in the refugee camp of Nur Shams on Sunday, the Palestinian health ministry said.

Egypt’s foreign ministry said Sunday that the country will host an emergency Arab summit to discuss Palestinian issues after U.S. President Donald Trump’s plan for cleaning out the Gaza Strip sparked outrage across the region.