From: Reuters and The Jerusalem Post February 9, 2025
Hamas claims victory as IDF withdraws from Gaza's Netzarim Corridor

The corridor cut off Gaza's northern communities, including its largest metropolitan area, from the south.

As the IDF wholly withdrew on Sunday from the Netzarim Corridor, forces fired on Palestinians who they said entered their security perimeter in northern Gaza, reportedly killing three.

Israeli forces had already reduced their presence in Netzarim on January 27 when most troops were withdrawn from the corridor, which allowed Palestinians in southern Gaza to return north for the first time since late 2023

Sunday, however, marked the completion date of the Netzarim withdrawal as part of phase one of the Gaza hostage and ceasefire deal, which went into effect on January 19 and has already seen 16 hostages released out of the 33 slated for release through March 1

The completion of the withdrawal served largely as an additional symbolic win for Hamas, showing it’s increasingly regaining control over Gaza.

Private American security forces contractors are checking any vehicles passing through the corridor.
Several times now, vehicles going north that avoided the corridor have been attacked by the Israel Air Force.