According to Al Jazeera, Israeli forces have completed their withdrawal from the Netzarim Corridor in Gaza, a key stipulation of the ceasefire agreement reached with Hamas last month. The Netzarim Corridor, a strip of land that divided northern Gaza from the rest of the Strip, was a strategic military area for Israel, providing oversight and control. Its removal is a significant step in the ongoing truce between the two sides.
A Hamas representative stated, “Israeli troops have taken down their military positions and completely retracted tanks from Netzar Corridor Salaheddin Road, enabling vehicles to traverse freely in both directions”. Hamas asserted that Israel’s full departure from the corridor represents a “continuation of the failure of the objectives of the extermination war against the Palestinian people”.
They emphasized that the repatriation of displaced Palestinians to their residences and the ongoing exchanges of captives and prisoners contradict Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s “falsehood” about achieving triumph in the protracted 15-month conflict in the region.
The withdrawal occurred just a day after Hamas and Israel conducted their fifth exchange of prisoners, with the Palestinian group releasing three Israeli captives in exchange for 183 Palestinian detainees held in Israeli facilities. The released Israeli hostages, who were captured during the Hamas-led assault on October 7, were Ohad Ben Ami, Eli Sharabi, and Or Levy.
Al Jazeera’s Hani Mahmoud reported that the Israeli military’s exit from the corridor raises hopes for increased freedom of movement for the residents of the enclave. He expressed optimism that with the Israeli military’s withdrawal, there would be enhanced movement, facilitating the passage of vehicles and aid trucks throughout the northern part of the Strip.
Hamas stated, “Gaza will remain a land liberated by the hands of its people and its fighters, and forbidden to the occupying invaders and any external force”.
While the withdrawal marks progress in the ceasefire agreement, discussions regarding subsequent phases remain uncertain. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has expressed reservations about the second phase of the deal, which would involve a complete withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza and the return of the remaining hostages.
To Get More News, Click The Button Below.👇