Israel completed its withdrawal from the 6-kilometer long Netzarim Corridor on Sunday, a militarized zone that splits Gaza in half. The corridor was constructed and occupied by Israeli forces to create a strategic central road intersecting the enclave.
Hundreds of thousands of Palestinians have filed through the area, many returning to their decimated homes. The journey is often arduous, with travelers navigating checkpoints and destruction wrought by 15 months of Israeli bombardment. Osama Saleem, who was waiting for his vehicle to be inspected, expressed hope that life would return to normal.
Hamas hailed the withdrawal as a victory for the will of its people, but Israel has not confirmed its presence at the crossing on Sunday. The corridor’s use marked part of Israel’s 15-month assault on Gaza. Since opening the corridor, around 500,000 displaced Palestinians have made the journey to the north.
Israel retains its presence along Gaza’s borders with Egypt and Israel, including a checkpoint run by Egyptian and Qatari officials. Negotiations on the second phase of the ceasefire and hostages agreement are mired in uncertainty, with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu deeply wary of full troop withdrawal and return of remaining hostages.
In related news, an incident near Nahal Oz killing three Palestinians and injuring others was reported Sunday. Netanyahu called for zero tolerance for those approaching the border fence, citing US President Trump’s plan to take Gaza under American control as a “revolutionary vision.”
Source: https://edition.cnn.com/2025/02/09/middleeast/netzarim-israel-gaza-ceasefire-withdrawal-intl/index.html