STORY: Israeli forces withdraw from key Gaza corridor under ceasefire deal
SHOOTING TIME: Feb. 9, 2025
DATELINE: Feb. 10, 2025
LENGTH: 00:01:59
LOCATION: GAZA, Palestine
CATEGORY: MILITARY

SHOTLIST:
1. various of Palestinians returning to their houses near the Netzarim Corridor
2. SOUNDBITE (Arabic): MOHAMMED ABED, Resident in Gaza
3. various of the damaged houses 

STORYLINE:

Israeli forces have withdrawn from a key area in Gaza late Sunday as part of the Israel-Hamas ceasefire agreement that took effect last month.

They pulled out from an area dubbed by Israel as the Netzarim Corridor -- a strip of land that bisected Gaza from north to south.

The Israeli military had established posts in the corridor during its 15-month-long assault on Gaza.

Footage circulating on social media appeared to show that before their withdrawal, Israeli troops set fire to furniture and unidentified boxes at their bases, with a soldier heard shouting, "We will leave nothing for the Gazans."

SOUNDBITE (Arabic): MOHAMMED ABED, Resident in Gaza
"We returned to our area after a year and a half and we did not recognize any of its landmarks. There are no houses, trees or even graves. All the landmarks of the area have changed. The Israeli army used this area to bomb the central areas of the Gaza Strip such as Nuseirat, Bureij, and Maghazi. The Israeli army committed major massacres against civilians."

The 42-day ceasefire between Israel and Hamas took effect on Jan. 19. Under the agreement, Israel committed to withdrawing its forces from the area. With the truce now past its midpoint, negotiations mediated by Qatar, Egypt, and the United States are set to determine whether the ceasefire will continue into its second phase, which would include the release of more hostages and Palestinian detainees.

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Gaza, Palestine.
(XHTV)