Israel troops withdraw from corridor that split Gaza in two

Israeli troops have pulled out from the Netzarim Corridor, a military zone that had divided the northern and southern parts of the Gaza Strip. Following the withdrawal, many Palestinians began returning to northern Gaza, driving or traveling on carts laden with belongings, only to find widespread destruction. This move aligns with the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas, reached on January 19, which has already facilitated the release of 16 Israeli hostages and 566 Palestinian prisoners.

The full agreement is expected to see the release of 33 hostages and 1,900 prisoners by the end of the first phase of the ceasefire in three weeks. Of the 33 hostages, Israel has stated that eight are deceased.

The situation in Gaza remains dire. Since the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, which resulted in the abduction of 251 hostages and the deaths of around 1,200 Israelis, over 48,000 Palestinians have lost their lives, as per Gaza’s Hamas-run health ministry. The UN reports that nearly two-thirds of Gaza's buildings have been either severely damaged or completely destroyed.

On Sunday, Palestinians began moving north through the Netzarim Corridor, many witnessing the ruins of their homes. Mahmoud al-Sarhi, a local resident, shared his shock at seeing his destroyed house for the first time. He said, "The entire area is in ruins. I cannot live here."

At the start of the conflict, around 700,000 residents of northern Gaza fled to the south, responding to Israeli evacuation orders. Many were forced to move several times as Israeli forces advanced further into southern Gaza. The corridor, which had isolated northern Gaza, was previously closed to returning residents, but following recent Israeli withdrawals, some Palestinians are now allowed to return.

While pedestrians can now use the coastal Rashid Street to enter northern Gaza, those in vehicles must go through Salah al-Din Street, where they are screened by US and Egyptian security personnel. The Israeli Defense Forces have not officially commented on Sunday’s withdrawal but it is believed that the eastern part of the corridor is now under the control of Gaza’s borders.

The Hamas-run Gaza interior ministry has urged residents to stay cautious and follow safety guidelines while moving through the area.

The Israeli troop withdrawal comes as an Israeli delegation is set to fly to Qatar, which has been mediating talks between Israel and Hamas during the Gaza conflict. The Israeli government has stated that the delegation will initially focus on "technical matters" regarding the first phase of the ceasefire deal, rather than the more difficult second phase. The second phase aims to secure a permanent ceasefire, the exchange of all remaining living hostages for more Palestinian prisoners, and the full withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza. This will require further instructions from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who is currently returning from a visit to the United States.

During his trip, Netanyahu became the first foreign leader to meet US President Donald Trump since Trump’s return to the White House on January 20. In a significant shift in US policy regarding Gaza, Trump called for the removal of Gaza’s entire civilian population and the development of what he described as "The Riviera of the Middle East." This proposal, which would violate international law, has been widely rejected, including by Arab states.

The Saudi foreign ministry expressed its rejection on Saturday, stating it would not accept "any infringement on the Palestinians' unalienable rights or any attempts at displacement," and accused Israel of committing "ethnic cleansing." Egypt also rejected the idea of forcibly removing Palestinians and has called for an emergency Arab League summit on February 27 to address what it described as "serious" developments related to the Palestinian issue.

Israel’s President Isaac Herzog, speaking to the BBC, suggested that it was time for new ideas from both the US and Israel's neighboring countries, Egypt and Jordan, who Trump hopes would take in Gaza's Palestinians. Herzog emphasized the need to ensure that a repeat of the October 7 attack does not occur, meaning that Hamas must no longer govern Gaza.