Humiliation or Surrender? Israeli Backlash Over Displaced Palestinians Returning to Gaza
Ceasefire Agreement Sparks Controversy in Israel as Thousands of Palestinians Return to Their Homes After 15 Months of Displacement.
Watan-Israeli reactions criticizing the scenes of displaced Palestinians returning to northern Gaza emerged following the opening of the Netzarim corridor and Israel’s withdrawal, as per the ceasefire agreement.
Former Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir described the return of residents to northern Gaza as a victory for Hamas and a “humiliating part of the illegitimate deal,” as he put it.
Quoting Israel’s Channel 7, Ben-Gvir said, “This is not what absolute victory looks like; it is complete surrender. Our soldiers did not fight and sacrifice their lives in Gaza to allow these scenes. We must return to war.”
Meanwhile, the Israeli Army Radio stated that Hamas achieved its goals this morning with the return of residents to northern Gaza.
The radio station added that it would be very difficult for Israel to resume fighting in northern Gaza after the first phase of the agreement, as returning to combat in a densely populated area would be an almost impossible task within a few weeks.
Yedioth Ahronoth cited Israeli military sources who said that the Netzarim corridor should have been preserved as a bargaining chip, given its clear significance to Hamas.
The sources added that Israel paid the full price of the deal by opening the Netzarim corridor without fully receiving the agreed-upon concessions.
Withdrawal from Netzarim
On Monday morning, thousands of displaced Palestinians began returning to northern Gaza after being forcibly displaced from their homes due to more than 15 months of Israeli genocide.
Israel’s Channel 12 reported that the Israeli army began withdrawing from the Netzarim corridor, which separates southern and northern Gaza. This corridor was established by the occupation during the launch of its ground operation on October 27, 2023.
The ceasefire between the Palestinian resistance and the Israeli occupation came into effect on January 19, 2025. In its first phase, lasting 42 days, negotiations will take place to initiate a second and third phase under the mediation of Egypt, Qatar, and the United States.
