Gaza Strip: After many months of fierce fighting, massacres, and destruction, the Zionist enemy was forced to withdraw from the Netzarim axis as part of a deal with the Palestinian resistance. The site, once a symbol of settlement and control within the Netanyahu government, is now seen as a symbol of military defeat.
According to Yemen News Agency, leaders of the extreme right in the Zionist enemy entity, such as Itamar Ben-Gvir, have acknowledged the failure of the Zionist plan in the Netzarim axis. This area has become a testament to the Palestinian resistance’s ability to thwart occupation projects, despite attempts to consolidate settlements by force.
On Sunday, the Zionist enemy army announced the completion of its forces’ withdrawal from the Netzarim axis in the Gaza Strip. This move was part of the implementation of a ceasefire agreement with the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas), after occupying the area for over a year and three months.
The occupation army radio reported: “Our forces have completely withdrawn from Netzarim,” following orders for Zionist forces to leave the axis separating the northern and southern Gaza Strip. The recent war reignited Zionist settler ambitions, with attempts to impose permanent control, but resistance operations turned the axis into a trap for occupiers.
Hamas emphasized that the withdrawal signifies a victory for Palestinian will, acknowledging the steadfastness and resistance of the Palestinian people. The movement stated that the withdrawal overthrows the illusions of occupation and its leadership about military control and attempts to impose a new reality through extermination and destruction.
According to media reports, the Zionist withdrawal from the Netzarim axis forms part of the agreed steps in the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas. Hamas leader Sami Abu Zuhri declared the withdrawal as Netanyahu’s defeat, highlighting that repeated invasions yield the same result: Gaza remains insurmountable for invaders.
Hamas spokesman Abdul Latif al-Qanua stated that the withdrawal marks the failure of the genocidal war on Palestinians. He emphasized that attempts to extend military control over the Gaza Strip have failed against the valor of the resistance.
The government media office in Gaza stated that the withdrawal will restore movement within the Gaza Strip and alleviate suffering, as the axis was used as a death trap, claiming over 1,000 lives. International observers are monitoring the movement of people and vehicles through the axis, following the withdrawal.
The withdrawal is part of the fifth phase of an exchange deal, with Zionist forces evacuating all military installations. The ceasefire and prisoner exchange agreement, effective since January 19, dictates freedom of movement for Palestinians and continued return of displaced people.
The withdrawal revealed extensive destruction of Palestinian infrastructure and homes. Since the start of ground operations, the areas surrounding the Netzarim axis have witnessed continuous shelling and clashes. Before the withdrawal in 2005, Netzarim was a prominent Zionist settlement, abandoned due to resistance attacks.
Palestinian estimates suggest extensive destruction, including agricultural lands and residential buildings, for establishing the Netzarim checkpoint. Analysts believe the Zionist army’s use of the axis was part of a broader strategy for controlling and resettling Gaza.
Experts state that the withdrawal signifies a strategic shift, as plans to divide Gaza failed. The latest agreement forces the Zionist enemy to leave Netzarim permanently, indicating that the will of resistance and negotiation can impose new ground realities.