Israel eases position on IDF withdrawal from Gaza, but shift unlikely to be sufficient for Hamas — diplomat

Israel submitted a new series of maps to mediators in Doha earlier today that envision a further reduction in its presence inside Gaza during the 60-day truce under discussion, an Arab diplomat tells The Times of Israel.

However, the adjustments are unlikely to be significant enough to allow for a breakthrough, the Arab diplomat says, adding that Hamas is still reviewing the updated Israeli proposal and will likely need a day or two before responding.

This is the second time that Israel has revised the maps of its proposed partial withdrawal from Gaza in two weeks.

Last week, it agreed to do so under US pressure, but the proposal was rejected by Hamas as insufficient, as it still envisioned Israel maintaining control of over one-third of the Strip, including a three-kilometer buffer zone in Rafah where Israel wants to create a controversial “humanitarian city.”

There, Gaza’s entire population will be herded, vetted upon entry and prevented from leaving, as Jerusalem encourages their migration to countries outside the Strip.

Confirming reporting on the Axios news site, the Arab diplomat says the new version of the Israeli maps envision a reduction of the Rafah buffer zone from three kilometers to two.