The updated Israeli proposal outlines a military repositioning along the Egypt-Gaza border, particularly between the Morag and Philadelphi corridors near Rafah. Unlike previous maps, this version reflects what negotiators described as “increased flexibility” regarding Israeli troop locations.

Yet Hamas continues to demand a full withdrawal of Israeli forces to positions held before the collapse of the last ceasefire in March. Disagreements over withdrawal scope, especially in southern Gaza, have been cited as a major sticking point in recent rounds of indirect talks held in Doha.

Israel’s earlier stance had called for a broader buffer zone — up to three kilometers — along the Egyptian border, encompassing areas around Rafah and the corridor separating it from Khan Younis, Gaza’s second-largest city.

Strategic Plans Behind Military Presence

Israeli insistence on maintaining a limited military footprint in southern Gaza is tied to its controversial plan to establish a controlled humanitarian zone. According to media reports, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government envisions setting up a camp in the area to house hundreds of thousands of displaced Palestinians.

Critics have described the plan as a form of mass internment or even forced displacement. However, Israeli officials defend it as a humanitarian initiative designed to facilitate voluntary evacuation of civilians from combat zones.

Whether the new proposal will advance the talks remains unclear. No breakthroughs have been confirmed, and mediators say the gap between Israeli and Hamas positions remains wide.

Meanwhile, European diplomats are reportedly trying to pressure Israel to permit broader aid access into Gaza, linking humanitarian relief to the viability of any ceasefire framework.