Ahmed Kamel – Egypt Daily News
Mediated negotiations are underway between Hamas and Israel to facilitate the safe withdrawal of Hamas fighters from areas located behind the so-called “yellow line” in the Gaza Strip, according to Palestinian and regional media reports on Sunday.
Sources cited by the Palestinian news agency Ma’an said that international mediators have been holding intensive discussions with both parties to secure the evacuation of Hamas combatants trapped in those zones. The initiative, first reported by Al Jazeera, seeks to prevent direct clashes between the fighters and Israeli forces during the withdrawal process.
According to the mediators, the proposed plan would see Hamas fighters evacuated in vehicles operated by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), using clearly designated and secure corridors. These humanitarian arrangements are designed to ensure safe passage under international supervision.
The sources added that Hamas has already signaled its approval of the proposed mechanism, while Israel’s formal response is still pending. Mediators are reportedly hopeful that the plan could be implemented in the coming days if both sides endorse the operational details.
The “yellow line” refers to the first withdrawal boundary outlined in the peace framework originally proposed under former U.S. President Donald Trump’s initiative, which became part of the initial phase of the ceasefire agreement between Hamas and Israel. That agreement entered into effect on October 10.
Geographically, the line demarcates the areas from which the Israeli army partially pulled back, separating eastern zones that remain under Israeli military presence from western areas where limited Palestinian civilian movement has been permitted.
As of the October 10 withdrawal, Israeli forces repositioned east of the “yellow line,” a zone that, according to Israeli estimates, covers more than 50 percent of the Gaza Strip’s territory.
The proposed evacuation, if carried out, would mark a new stage in efforts to stabilize the fragile ceasefire and prevent renewed confrontation, while offering a humanitarian corridor for Hamas fighters stranded in contested zones.
