Israel offers new concessions on withdrawing its troops from Gaza

Israel has agreed to further concessions regarding the withdrawal of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) from the Gaza Strip.

During ongoing negotiations, Israeli representatives presented mediators with updated maps reflecting a reduced military presence in the southern part of Gaza, Caliber.Az reports, citing Israeli media.

Under the revised proposal, Israeli forces would remain in a zone less than two kilometres wide north of the Philadelphi Corridor, which runs along the Gaza-Egypt border. This marks a significant shift from Israel’s initial position, which called for maintaining a security buffer of up to five kilometres north of the Egyptian border.

The Israel-Hamas war, ongoing since October 7, 2023, has resulted in significant loss of life and destruction. Gaza’s Health Ministry reports over 58,000 Palestinian deaths by July 2025, while Israel has faced attacks from Hamas and other groups, including the loss of five IDF soldiers in a Hamas ambush in Beit Hanoun on July 7, 2025. Ceasefire talks, mediated by Qatar, Egypt, and the U.S., have repeatedly stalled over key issues, including the extent of IDF withdrawal, aid distribution mechanisms, and guarantees for a permanent end to hostilities.

By Khagan Isayev