Israeli source: No withdrawal from the Philadelphi Corridor

An Israeli source clarified this morning (Thursday) that Israel will not withdraw from the Philadelphi Corridor, despite reports about this in the hostage deal.

"We will not leave the Philadelphi Corridor," the source stressed. "We will not allow the murderers of Hamas to roam around again with pickup trucks and rifles on our border, and we will not allow them to regain strength from smuggling."

The statement comes against the backdrop of the return of the last four hostages as part of the first phase of the deal between Israel and Hamas. At the same time, efforts by international brokers to extend this stage or to advance negotiations to the next stage of the deal are continuing.

According to foreign media reports, Israel was supposed to withdraw from the Philadelphi Corridor by March 9, as part of the terms of the agreement. However, the Israeli clarification indicates an intention not to meet this condition, apparently due to security considerations and to prevent Hamas from re-arming.

Yesterday, Kan News reported that Israel is in talks with the United States with the aim of extending the ceasefire for several more weeks, with the aim of releasing additional hostages.

According to the report, the continued release of the hostages will be carried out in exchange for examining the possibility of withdrawing from the Philadelphi Corridor and releasing additional terrorists from Israeli prisons.

The brokers in the deal are trying to work so that it will spread throughout the entire month of Ramadan.