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Middle East conflict

Updated at:

Israeli troops withdrawn from Netzarim corridor in central Gaza

According to the Ynet, it was done under the hostage release deal with Hamas and in line with the Israeli political authorities’ instructions

© AP Photo/Maya Alleruzzo, File

TEL AVIV, February 9. /TASS/. Israel has completely withdrawn its troops from the Netzarim corridor between the northern and southern parts of the Gaza Strip, the Ynet portal reported.

According to the news portal, it was done under the hostage release deal with Hamas and in line with the Israeli political authorities’ instructions. After the troops withdrawal from central Gaza, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) continue controlling the Philadelphi Corridor, a narrow strip of land along Gaza’s border with Egypt, and the buffer zone along the enclave’s border with Israel, Ynet said.

Hamas has confirmed that Israeli troops have been withdrawn from the Netzarim corridor between the northern and southern parts of the Gaza Strip.

"Israel has pulled its troops from the Netzarim corridor - this is a triumph of the firmness of the Palestinian people," it said on its Telegram channel and warned that it would "continue fighting against Israel until an independent Palestinian State id established," as well as that it would not let "plans to resettle all the Palestinians from their territories" be implemented.

Director of the Institute for Palestine Studies Mohammad Almarsi said earlier that the defense army command had agreed to allow the presence of American private companies that would inspect the Netzarim checkpoint ahead of the return of displaced persons to their homes in southern and central parts of the enclave. According to Almarsi, Palestinians want to return to their destroyed homes and "this will be done under the control of American security companies."

Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani said late on January 15 that thanks to the mediatory efforts of Egypt, Qatar, and the United States, Israel and Hamas had reached an agreement on a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and the release of hostages held in the enclave. During the first 42-day phase of the deal, Hamas will release 33 hostages in exchange for Israel freeing hundreds of Palestinian prisoners. The agreement came into effect on January 19.

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