As Israel and Hamas inch closer to a potential ceasefire agreement, a major sticking point remains: Israel’s plan to keep troops stationed in Gaza during the proposed 60-day truce.
Morag Corridor: Key to Israel’s Strategic Plan
An Israeli official, speaking anonymously, confirmed that the desire to maintain troops in Gaza’s southern corridor — particularly the Morag corridor — is one of the final unresolved issues in the ongoing ceasefire talks.
The Morag corridor, which spans 12 kilometers from the Israeli border to the Mediterranean, has become a critical area for Israel. It was seized in April and is seen as part of a broader strategy to pressure Hamas and control movement inside Gaza.
A Controversial Plan: “Humanitarian City” in Southern Gaza
Israel aims to use the Morag corridor as a “screening zone” to filter Palestinians heading south and prevent Hamas fighters from infiltrating. The plan involves relocating hundreds of thousands of Palestinians to a narrow area near the Egypt-Gaza border, which Israel refers to as a “humanitarian city.”
Critics, including human rights groups, say this may amount to forced displacement, with many Palestinians already pushed from their homes multiple times since the war began. The Rafah region — once a bustling city — is now devastated and nearly empty after evacuation orders.
Hamas Opposes Any Israeli Presence in Gaza
Hamas has made it clear that any permanent truce must include a complete withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza. The group still holds dozens of hostages and continues to reject demands for surrender.
In a statement on Wednesday, Hamas listed troop withdrawal as one of the unresolved issues in the negotiations, although it didn’t specifically name the Morag corridor.
Netanyahu Silent on Corridor Dispute
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has not commented publicly on how the Morag corridor affects ceasefire talks. During his recent trip to Washington, he met with U.S. President Donald Trump to discuss the situation. A White House official confirmed that Israeli troop presence in Gaza was a key topic in the talks between the U.S., Israel, and Qatar.
Trump said, “We want to have peace. We want to get the hostages back. And I think we’re close to doing it.”
Other Strategic Corridors in Gaza
The Morag corridor is one of three key east-west corridors that Israel now controls:
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Morag Corridor – between Rafah and Khan Younis
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Netzarim Corridor – cutting off Gaza’s northern third
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Philadelphi Corridor – along the Egypt-Gaza border
Israel argues that it must control the Philadelphi corridor to stop arms smuggling, though Egypt denies weapons are being smuggled across its border.
What’s Next?
As negotiations continue, it remains unclear whether Israel will compromise on its troop presence in the Morag corridor. Previous demands for military control of other areas have delayed ceasefire agreements for months.
Israel believes holding Morag is essential for its long-term goal of dismantling Hamas in northern Gaza. However, Hamas views any Israeli presence inside Gaza as unacceptable, setting the stage for difficult choices in the days ahead.
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