Trump Publishes Israeli "Initial Withdrawal" Map from Gaza: Rafah, Beit Hanoun to Remain Under Control in Phase One

US President Donald Trump unveiled a detailed map on his social media platform "Truth Social," outlining the proposed "initial withdrawal" lines for Israeli army forces from the Gaza Strip. This withdrawal is part of the first phase in implementing the prisoner and hostage exchange process, as proposed in Trump's 20-point plan to resolve the crisis.

The new map provides more precise details than the initial line previously disclosed by the White House. It clearly shows that the city of Rafah remains under Israeli control, along with the Philadelphi Corridor on the border with Egypt. In the northern Gaza Strip, the map explicitly includes the city of Beit Hanoun within the areas that will stay under Israeli control until all stages of the agreement are fully implemented later on.

Trump confirmed that this move is an "initial withdrawal," and that his 20-point plan involves a gradual withdrawal of the Israeli army from Gaza. Following this initial pullout, intended to facilitate the release of hostages, Israel will gradually transfer control over additional territories to an international Arab-Islamic force that will be established, tasked with ensuring the demilitarization of the Strip.

According to the original withdrawal map published as part of the comprehensive plan, the Israeli army will maintain control over a security perimeter along the Gaza border, as well as its border with Egypt at Philadelphi, "until it is completely confirmed that there is no terrorist threat from the Gaza Strip." On Saturday evening, the US President announced that Israel had agreed to the initial withdrawal line after negotiations and that Hamas had been briefed on it, adding that a ceasefire would begin immediately upon the movement's approval.

Israeli Army Stance and Purpose of Frontline Freeze

In a related context, Israeli Army Radio reported on Saturday that the three divisions currently maneuvering in Gaza City are holding their positions, with no advance on the frontline or retreat to rear lines. The radio emphasized that attacks reported in Gaza in recent hours are aimed at removing threats to forces and also at warning Gazan civilians against returning north to Gaza City.

For its part, the newspaper "Israel Hayom" cited an Israeli political source stating that the current cessation of offensive operations by the Israeli army in the Gaza Strip is primarily intended to enable Hamas to begin preparing for the release of hostages.