Israel announced it will not withdraw from the strategic Philadelphi corridor along Gaza’s border with Egypt, potentially jeopardizing the fragile ceasefire with Hamas.
An Israeli official, speaking anonymously, claimed the military needs to maintain its position to prevent weapons smuggling, while Defense Minister Israel Katz alleged the existence of border tunnels.
Hamas condemned this stance as a “blatant violation” of the ceasefire agreement, which explicitly calls for Israel to begin withdrawing from the corridor on Saturday — the final day of the first phase — and complete the pullout within eight days. Egypt, which opposes any Israeli presence along its border with Gaza, has not yet commented.
The tension comes as the first phase of the ceasefire draws to a close. In the final planned prisoner exchange, Hamas released the remains of four hostages: Ohad Yahalomi, Itzhak Elgarat, Shlomo Mantzur, and Tsachi Idan. In return, Israel freed more than 600 Palestinian prisoners, most of whom were detainees rounded up after the Oct. 7, 2023, attack and held without charge.
“Our hearts ache upon receiving the bitter news,” said Israeli President Isaac Herzog, adding there was “some solace in knowing that they will be laid to rest in dignity in Israel.”
The fragile peace now depends heavily on upcoming negotiations. U.S. President Trump’s Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, is expected to visit the region soon to facilitate talks on the second phase of the agreement. Meanwhile, Netanyahu announced he’s sending negotiators to Cairo.
The ceasefire, brokered by the United States, Egypt and Qatar, ended 15 months of war following Hamas’ 2023 attack that killed approximately 1,200 Israelis and saw about 250 taken hostage. If the identities of the four returned bodies are confirmed, 59 captives remain in Gaza, with 32 believed dead.
Israel faces a fundamental dilemma: Netanyahu has vowed both to return all hostages and destroy Hamas’ military capabilities — goals that may be mutually exclusive without resuming the war. Hamas, still in control of Gaza despite devastating Israeli operations, is unlikely to release remaining hostages without a permanent ceasefire.
The conflict has exacted a devastating toll on Gaza, with Palestinian health officials reporting over 48,000 deaths. The fighting has displaced approximately 90% of Gaza’s population and severely damaged the territory’s infrastructure and healthcare system.
Read more: Israeli official says the army won’t withdraw from a Gaza corridor in potential jolt to truce
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