Israel to retain control over 53% of Gaza Strip after withdrawing its troops

The Israel Defense Forces will leave Gaza City, which it began to capture during Operation “Gideon’s Chariots”

After implementing the first stage of Donald Trump’s peace plan for resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, Israel will retain control over 53% of the Gaza Strip, the Ynet news website reported.

According to the outlet, following the Israeli government’s vote to “finally approve the agreement, Israel will have to withdraw its troops within 24 hours to a line agreed with [the radical Palestinian movement] Hamas.”

It added that “after the withdrawal, Israel will retain control of about 53% of Gaza,” noting that “during the process, the Israel Defense Forces will leave Gaza City, which it began to capture during Operation Gideon’s Chariots.”

Earlier, US President Donald Trump stated that representatives of Israel and Hamas had signed agreements on the first stage of the peace plan following negotiations in
Egypt.

According to Trump, this includes the release of all hostages in the near future and the withdrawal of Israeli troops to an agreed line within the Gaza Strip. He added that the first steps have been taken “toward a strong, durable, and everlasting peace.”.