Israeli forces have fully withdrawn from the Netzarim Corridor southeast of Gaza City, marking the 22nd day of the ceasefire. Despite the pullout, Israeli occupation forces killed three Palestinians on Sunday, according to local reports. The Gaza Ministry of Health announced that the causalities from the conflict has risen to 48,189, with 111,640 wounded since 7 October 2023.
The Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) described the withdrawal as evidence of Israel’s failure to achieve its military objectives. In a statement, the group said the return of displaced Palestinians, the continuation of prisoner exchanges, and the retreat from Netzarim contradicted Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s claims of victory. Hamas added that Israeli attempts to divide and control Gaza had been thwarted by the resilience of the Palestinian people.
Meanwhile, Egypt has announced that Cairo will host an emergency Arab League summit on 27 February, coinciding with the 164th session of the Arab Ministerial Council. The meeting will focus on forming a unified Arab stance against US-backed proposals for the displacement of Palestinians from Gaza. It will also address mounting humanitarian concerns, the region’s political future, and efforts to support Egypt and Jordan against external pressures.
In response to recent remarks by Netanyahu, Saudi Arabia and Qatar have both strongly rejected any proposals involving the forced displacement of Palestinians. The Saudi Foreign Ministry denounced Netanyahu’s statements, while Qatar condemned his suggestion of establishing a Palestinian state on Saudi territory, reaffirming its firm opposition to such plans.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has called for an emergency meeting of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) to discuss the latest developments in Gaza. According to the Iranian Mehr News Agency, Araghchi and his Egyptian counterpart, Badr Abdelati, held a phone call on Saturday evening to discuss regional issues, with a particular focus on Palestine.
