Senior Israeli official denies IDF will gradually withdraw from Philadelphi Corridor in first phase of ceasefire

A senior diplomatic official denies that Israel has agreed to gradually pull out of the Philadelphi Corridor along the border between Gaza and Egypt from the start of the ceasefire.

The official says Israeli troops will remain in the area “throughout the entire first stage, all 42 days.” The number of troops deployed there will remain the same, the official says, “but will be distributed in a different manner, including outposts, patrols, observation points and control along the entire route.”

Only on day 16 of the first stage, the official says, will negotiations begin over the end of the war, and “if Hamas does not agree to Israeli demands to end the war, Israel will remain in the Philadelphi Corridor also on the 42nd day and also the 50th day.” In practical terms, the official adds, “Israel is staying in Philadelphi until further notice.”

A leaked version of the agreement, the authenticity of which was later confirmed to The Times of Israel, states that the Israeli side “will gradually reduce the forces in the corridor area during stage 1 based on the accompanying maps and the agreement between both sides.” On day 42, the deal says, “Israeli forces will begin their withdrawal and complete it no later than day 50.”