(9 Jul 2025)
RESTRICTION SUMMARY:
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Jerusalem – 9 July 2025
1. SOUNDBITE (English) Joe Federman, Associated Press:
"As Israel and Hamas move closer to a ceasefire, the sides are feuding over planned Israeli redeployment in Gaza. Israel is expected to withdraw some of the troops it has from positions in Gaza as part of any deal but it is resisting calls to leave an area known as the Morag Corridor."
ASSOCIATED PRESS
ARCHIVE: Morag, Rafah area, Gaza Strip – 29 May 2025
2. Various of thousands of displaced people walking, some of them carrying food supplies
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Jerusalem – 9 July 2025
3. SOUNDBITE (English) Joe Federman, Associated Press:
"This is a small stretch of land in southern Gaza not too far from the Egyptian border. It’s a small piece of land but it holds great strategic value. It’s part of an Israeli plan to move all of Gaza’s population, roughly 2 million people, into a narrow strip of land along the Egyptian border. It says this area will become a humanitarian city and that food and supplies and other resources will be available to the Palestinians there. But by maintaining control over this corridor it also means that Palestinians will not be able to return further north. The Palestinians fear that this is part of a broader plan to leave them trapped in this narrow area and ultimately to force them to leave Gaza. The mediators are working around the clock trying to resolve this issue, but so far no signs of a breakthrough."
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Southern Israel – 9 July 2025
4. Explosions seen over Gaza skyline as Israeli bombardment continues
STORYLINE:
As Israel and Hamas move closer to a ceasefire agreement, Israel says it wants to maintain troops in a southern corridor of the Gaza Strip — a condition that could derail the talks.
An Israeli official said an outstanding issue in the negotiations was Israel’s desire to keep forces in the territory during a 60-day truce, including in the east-west axis that Israel calls the Morag corridor.
The official spoke on condition of anonymity because they weren’t authorized to talk with the media about the negotiations.
Keeping a foothold in the Morag corridor is a key element in Israel’s plan to drive hundreds of thousands of Palestinians south toward a narrow swath of land along the border with Egypt, into what it has termed a “humanitarian city.”
Critics fear the move is a precursor to the coerced relocation of much of Gaza’s population of some 2 million people, and part of the Israeli government’s plans to maintain lasting control over the territory.
Hamas, which still holds dozens of hostages and refuses calls by Israel to surrender, wants Israel to withdraw all of its troops as part of any permanent truce.
It is adamantly opposed to any lasting Israeli presence inside Gaza.
As part of the proposed truce, Israel and Hamas would hold fire for 60 days, during which time some hostages would be freed and more aid would enter Gaza.
Previous demands by Israel to maintain troops in a separate corridor stalled progress on a ceasefire deal for months.
The office of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declined to comment on how the Morag corridor was playing into ceasefire talks.
Netanyahu was in Washington this week to discuss the ceasefire and other matters with U.S. President Donald Trump, who has pushed both sides to bring an end to the war in Gaza.
During their 21-month campaign in Gaza, Israeli forces have seized wide swaths of land, including three east-west corridors that have carved up the Palestinian enclave.
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