The Israeli military retired from a Gaza area known as the Netzarim corridor that cuts the enclave, said Hamas on Sunday (9), a measure that was expected under the ceasefire agreement between Israel and the Palestinian militant group.
An Israeli security source, requesting anonymity, since he was not allowed to speak publicly, confirmed that the military was retreating from their positions in downtown Gaza.
Israel’s forces had already reduced their presence at the scene.
Hamas celebrated the withdrawal as a victory and the police force directed by Hamas was sent to the area to manage the flow of Palestinians who crossed. The Israeli military did not comment immediately.
Reuters images showed what seemed to be Israeli military vehicles moving away from the coast toward the Israeli border.
From the early months of the war, the Israeli forces have occupied the corridor of about 6.4 kilometers in southern the city of Gaza, which extends from the Israeli border to the Mediterranean Sea.
The corridor isolated the communities of northern Gaza, including its largest metropolitan area in the southern.
Thousands of Palestinians have crossed the corridor in recent weeks, returning to their homes in the north from southern Gaza, where they sought war shelter.
Some of those who crossed described their shock after seeing the destruction of communities and finding out what they said are human remains in areas where Israeli forces retired.
Much of the north of Gaza became a wasteland after Israel’s campaign. After finding out that their homes were destroyed, some inhabitants of Gaza returned south, while others set up tents where their homes once existed.
Former American soldiers employed as private service providers were highlighted to inspect vehicles that passed the corridor in recent weeks, after the ceasefire agreement implemented on January 19 after more than 15 months of war.
Crowds of people were seen crossing the corridor on Sunday, while Hamas announced the removal of the Israeli military, while a long line of cars gathered, waiting to pass.
Hamas military and police forces have increased their public presence since the ceasefire in January, in what analysts say it is an intentional message that the group was not defeated.
Israel promised to destroy Hamas for its October 2023 attack, in which 1,200 people were killed, most of them civilians, and more than 250 hostages.
More than 46,000 people were killed by Israel’s retaliatory attack, Palestinian health authorities, who claim that most of the dead are women and children.
