Israeli Military Withdrawal from Netzarim Corridor Completed
The Israeli military has successfully completed its withdrawal from the Netzarim Corridor, a crucial highway in Gaza, on Sunday. This move is part of an ongoing ceasefire agreement, as confirmed by a Hamas official who spoke to AFP. The official stated, “Israeli forces have dismantled their positions and military posts, and tanks have completely vacated the Netzarim Corridor along Salaheddin Road, allowing for unrestricted vehicle movement in both directions.”
An AFP journalist on the ground reported that no Israeli forces were present in the area on Sunday. This full withdrawal took place just a day after Hamas and Israel executed their fifth hostage-prisoner exchange. In this swap, Hamas released three Israeli captives in return for 183 Palestinian prisoners incarcerated in Israeli facilities.
Ceasefire Agreement Details
Late on Saturday, a senior Hamas official informed AFP that, per the ceasefire agreement, Israeli forces were required to vacate Salaheddin Road following the completion of the fifth swap. The official noted, “Mediators had communicated to Hamas on Friday evening that Israeli forces would initiate their withdrawal from Salaheddin Road on Sunday morning, which included dismantling the military checkpoint along with surrounding positions.” This development is expected to facilitate unrestricted movement for civilians and vehicles.
However, AFP has not been able to verify the specifics of the ceasefire agreement, as its full text has not been disclosed to the public. When queried about the withdrawal, an Israeli security official, speaking on the condition of anonymity, remarked, “We are preparing to implement the ceasefire agreement in line with the directives from the political leadership.”
Increased Civilian Movement
Following the withdrawal, AFP journalists observed a notable increase in civilian traffic. Vehicles such as cars, buses, pickup trucks, and even donkey carts were seen traversing Salaheddin Road from both the northern and southern directions. This marks a significant change, as Israel had only reopened the highway for northbound traffic late last month, allowing displaced residents to return to their homes in northern Gaza.
With the military’s exit from the corridor, residents from the northern regions can now move southward as well. This is a pivotal shift, especially since the outbreak of conflict in Gaza in October 2023, where the Israeli military had effectively isolated the northern part of the territory from the southern regions by heavily fortifying the corridor.
