West Asia Ceasefire: Israeli Army Not Withdrawing From Gaza Corridor, Says Official | Know Why

Amid tensions over the future of the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, the former has refused to withdraw from the strategic Philadelphi corridor in the Gaza Strip as called for by the ceasefire, an official told the Associated Press on Thursday. With this, experts fear a deeper crisis in West Asia amid a fragile truce.

As per the rules of the ceasefire, Israel was expected to begin withdrawing its troops from the Philadelphi corridor on Saturday, the last day of the first phase, and complete it within eight days. However, according to the Israeli official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, Israeli forces needed to remain in the so-called Philadelphi corridor, on the Gaza side of the border with Egypt, to prevent weapons smuggling.

There was no immediate comment from Hamas or Egypt. But in a statement earlier on Thursday, the militant group said the only way for Israel to secure the release of dozens of hostages still held in Gaza was through negotiations and adhering to the ceasefire agreement.

The development came following the latest and fine round of hostage handover planned under the ceasefire's first six-week phase, which expires this weekend. So far, in line with the ceasefire's rules, Hamas has returned 33 hostages, including eight bodies, in exchange for nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners.

About The Israel-Hamas Ceasefire

The ceasefire has brought a pause in the fighting but prospects of a definitive end to the war remain unclear. With mediation by Qatar, Egypt, and the United States, a ceasefire was agreed upon after 15 months of bloodbath and devastation of an unimaginable scale in Gaza. The ceasefire, to be executed in three phases, began on January 20.

Both sides have said they intend to start talks on a second stage, which mediators say aims to agree on the return of around 60 remaining hostages and the withdrawal of Israeli troops.

The First Phase

In the six-week-long first phase which is going to expire this weekend, hostages and prisoners were being exchanged. Thirty-three Israeli captives, including women, children, and older civilians, taken during the October 7, attack, were released at the end of the first phase. 

In return, Israel freed nearly 2000 Palestinian prisoners, including women, children under 19, and those detained after the October 7 attacks.

The second phase

The second phase of the ceasefire agreement, set to be negotiated by the 16th day of phase one, focuses on securing a permanent end to the war. It includes the release of all remaining hostages in Gaza, including Israeli male soldiers, in exchange for more Palestinian prisoners. A key part of this phase is for the war to stop permanently and for Israeli forces to fully withdraw.

However, both sides have conditions. Israel has stated that a full troop withdrawal will only occur once all hostages are returned and Hamas's military capabilities are dismantled. Meanwhile, Hamas has insisted it will not release the last hostages until Israel completely withdraws its troops.

The Third Phase

The third and final phase focuses on rebuilding Gaza and ensuring the return of the bodies of any remaining hostages. The reconstruction effort will be overseen by Egypt, Qatar, and the United Nations. 

There is no clarity or agreement on who will govern Gaza after the ceasefire. While Israel has opposed any role for Hamas in the leadership, the Palestinian Authority lacks credibility among Gaza's residents, leaving the future leadership of the region uncertain.

The Future Of The Truce

Amid speculations over the future of the truce, US President Donald Trump's envoy, Witkoff, has said he wants the sides to move into negotiations on the second phase. The talks were supposed to begin the first week of February.

With no specific roadmap for the near future, it is still unclear how Israel would destroy Hamas without resuming the war, and Hamas is unlikely to release the remaining hostages without a lasting ceasefire.