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Israeli troops have pulled out from the Netzarim Corridor, a strategic military zone that had separated the northern and southern regions of the Gaza Strip.

Hundreds of Palestinians, in vehicles and carts loaded with belongings, have started returning to northern Gaza after the withdrawal, facing scenes of widespread destruction.

The Israeli retreat aligns with the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas on January 19th, resulting in the release of 21 Israeli hostages and 566 Palestinian detainees. By the end of the initial ceasefire phase in three weeks, a total of 33 hostages and 1,900 prisoners are planned to be freed, with Israel confirming that eight of the 33 hostages are deceased.

Hamas had captured 251 hostages and caused approximately 1,200 fatalities when it initiated an attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, leading to the Gaza war.

Reports from Gaza's Hamas-led health ministry reveal that at least 48,189 Palestinians have died in Israel's offensive, with the United Nations stating that about two-thirds of Gaza's structures have been damaged or demolished due to Israeli airstrikes.

Following the war's outbreak, some 700,000 residents of northern Gaza relocated to southern regions due to mass evacuation orders issued by the Israeli military before their ground incursion into the Palestinian territory. Subsequently, many evacuees were displaced multiple times as Israeli forces advanced into southern Gaza, while strict controls prevented their return via the Netzarim Corridor, which extends from the Gaza-Israel border to the Mediterranean Sea.

Israeli forces recently withdrew partially from the corridor's western section, allowing pedestrians to traverse the coastal Rashid Street into northern Gaza, while individuals on vehicles must take Salah al-Din Street and undergo security screenings conducted by American and Egyptian contractors.

Although Israeli forces have not officially commented on Sunday's eastern corridor withdrawal, it signifies relinquishing control of Gaza's borders and the passageway that divided the region. The Hamas-controlled Gaza interior ministry has advised citizens to follow movement guidelines and exercise caution for safety.

Simultaneously, an Israeli delegation is anticipated to travel to Qatar for discussions mediated by Qatar between both sides involved in the Gaza conflict.

Before addressing more complex matters in the subsequent ceasefire stages, Israeli representatives are set to focus initially on technical aspects of the agreement, awaiting instructions from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's return from the US.

During Netanyahu's recent visit to the US, President Donald Trump proposed a significant departure from the past US policy regarding Gaza: advocating for the relocation of the entire civilian population and the transformation of the region into what he dubbed "The Riviera of the Middle East." Such an idea, deemed unlawful under international regulations, has been widely rejected, including by Arab nations.

Saudi Arabia and Egypt have vehemently opposed any population relocations from Gaza, with Egypt announcing a convocation of an urgent Arab League summit on February 27 to deliberate on critical developments in the Palestinian situation.

In response to Trump's proposal, Israel's President Isaac Herzog emphasized the necessity for innovative approaches from the US and neighboring countries like Egypt and Jordan, reiterating the importance of preventing Hamas rule in Gaza moving forward.