Israel begins pulling out of Gaza corridor as part of cease-fire deal

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Subscribe to enjoy similar stories. TEL AVIV—The Israeli military began a full withdrawal from a sprawling security zone within the central Gaza Strip as part of a cease-fire agreement with Hamas, Israeli and Palestinian officials said. The withdrawal, which began overnight between Saturday and Sunday, leaves Israel with a small footprint inside the enclave as the two sides look toward extending the deal that would end the war and release the remaining Israeli hostages.

Leaving the east-west Netzarim corridor, which was used by Israeli forces to divide the territory, control the population’s movements, and facilitate troop movements around the enclave, removes a bargaining chip for Israel as it prepares to enter into the next phase of cease-fire talks. During the war, Palestinians saw the expanding footprint of the corridor as evidence that Israel was planning a long-term occupation of Gaza. Israeli military analysts say the military could retake the territory if it chose to.

Israel’s military hasn’t announced the withdrawal. “We are preparing to implement the agreement according to the guidelines of the political echelon," said an Israeli security official, referring to the terms of the agreement that require Israeli troops to withdraw from the Netzarim corridor by Sunday. Also on Sunday, Defense Minister Israel Katz said the military was expanding a weekslong counterterrorism operation in the northern West Bank.