Why is “Israel's” withdrawal from Netzarim Corridor seen as pivotal moment?

"Israel’s" withdrawal from the Netzarim Corridor marks a significant shift in the Gaza aggression, sparking mixed reactions from both sides.

While Palestinians returned to the area only to find widespread devastation, "Israeli" military officials criticized the move as a strategic loss.

The corridor, which split Gaza in half, had been a key point of control for "Israeli" forces since the start of the aggression, used to displace Palestinians and restrict movement.

Under the ceasefire agreement, "Israel" was required to withdraw by day 21, remaining only within a one-kilometer buffer zone inside Gaza. However, "Israeli" forces still occupy the Philadelphi Corridor near the Egyptian border, with a scheduled withdrawal on day 50.

Despite fulfilling a major term of the ceasefire, the withdrawal was bittersweet for Palestinians. While they welcomed the retreat of "Israeli" forces, the devastation left behind was overwhelming. Entire neighborhoods lay in ruins, infrastructure was obliterated, and the humanitarian situation remained dire.

The corridor which was named after Netzarim, the last "Israeli" settlement in Gaza, was evacuated in 2005 under then-Prime Minister Ariel Sharon’s disengagement plan.

While the latest withdrawal reflects a shift in "Israeli" military strategy, it has been criticized by right-wing figures and military officials, who see it as a concession that could allow Hamas to regroup and rearm. The Reservists Commanders Forum condemned the move as "a renunciation of a strategic asset" that could come at a heavy cost to "Israel’s" security.

On the Palestinian side, Hamas spokesperson Abdel Latif Al-Qanoua framed the withdrawal as evidence of "Israel’s" failure to achieve its objectives. He pointed to the return of displaced Palestinians, ongoing prisoner exchanges, and the retreat from Netzarim as contradictions to "Israeli" Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s claims of a “complete victory.”