Israel will not withdraw from the "Philadelphia Corridor" between Gaza and Egypt

The Israeli army said it would not withdraw its troops from the "Philadelphia corridor" between Gaza and Egypt after the first phase of the ceasefire agreement.

The Times of Israel quoted Israeli officials as saying that Israeli forces would "never" withdraw from the Philadelphia corridor to prevent Hamas from smuggling weapons through the corridor and rearming.

Israeli officials say Hamas has been using the crossing to smuggle weapons into Gaza.

Last July, Israel and Hamas were reported to be close to reaching a ceasefire agreement, but negotiations broke down when Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu proposed that Israeli troops be stationed in the "Philadelphia corridor".

According to the current ceasefire agreement, Israel is to begin withdrawing from the "Philadelphia Corridor" on March 2, the 42nd day of the ceasefire, and to withdraw completely by March 10, the 50th day of the ceasefire.

On January 15, Israel and Hamas reached an agreement for a cease-fire in the Gaza Strip. The agreement took effect on January 19. The first phase of the ceasefire lasted six weeks, during which the two sides exchanged hostages and prisoners held by each other.

Under the ceasefire agreement, Israel and Hamas were supposed to open a second phase of ceasefire talks on February 3, but no substantive negotiations have taken place.