The ceasefire and hostage agreement in Gaza includes a detailed schedule for the withdrawal of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) from Gaza, according to the United States (U.S.) Secretary of State Antony Blinken. However, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu insists that the IDF must remain in strategic corridors within the enclave.
“The agreement is very clear regarding the schedule and location of the IDF and their withdrawal from Gaza, and Israel has agreed to this,” Blinken told reporters as he continued efforts to advance the agreement in Doha, following visits to Egypt and Israel.
Egypt and Qatar, with U.S. assistance, have been the main mediators in negotiating the release of the remaining 109 hostages. The U.S. also hopes that this agreement will lead to an end to the war in Gaza.
On Monday, Blinken held a three-hour meeting with Netanyahu in Jerusalem. Following the meeting, both Blinken and the Prime Minister stated that Israel had accepted a “bridging proposal” that the U.S. had presented last week in Qatar. This proposal was designed to close the gap between Israel and Hamas regarding the implementation of a plan proposed by U.S. President Joe Biden on May 31st, which was based on an Israeli proposal presented a few days earlier.
During and after Blinken’s visit, Netanyahu insisted that the IDF must remain in two critical security corridors in Gaza – Philadelphi and Netzarim. On Tuesday, as the U.S. prepared for high-level negotiations in Cairo later this week, Netanyahu stated that the IDF’s presence in the Philadelphi Corridor must be part of the agreement.
As a result, the agreement details when and how the IDF will withdraw, while also emphasizing the importance of the IDF remaining in these two corridors, Klix.ba writes.
E.Dz.
