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Israel plans to maintain a long-term military presence at three strategic points in and around Gaza even after implementing a prisoner exchange and gradual withdrawal under U.S. President Donald Trump's ceasefire plan, Israeli media reported.
Israeli officials informed the Washington administration that forces would remain in a buffer zone within the Gaza Strip borders, the Philadelphi Corridor along the Egypt-Gaza border and the "Hill 70" (Mintar Hill) area east of Gaza City, according to unnamed sources cited by Israeli state television KAN.
The locations are claimed to provide Israel with field superiority and tracking and control capabilities, according to the report.
The U.S. administration reportedly showed understanding of Israel's need to remain at these points after implementing the first withdrawal phase.
The plan envisions Israeli forces withdrawing from combat zones after all prisoners are released, according to the report.
The army would temporarily remain at a "yellow line" in the Gaza Strip, then withdraw to a "red line" as foreign forces operating under U.S. authority enter the region to manage the security situation.
In the final phase, forces are expected to deploy along the Gaza Strip borders while maintaining control of the Philadelphi Corridor and Hill 70 area to continue preventing potential security threats.
Israeli forces continued heavy bombardment of different Gaza areas overnight despite Trump's call to "immediately stop attacks."
Al-Azhar University in Gaza was targeted, with campus buildings completely collapsed and rendered unusable, according to local sources.
Israeli warplanes struck tents of displaced people in the Asda area north of Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza Strip, injuring numerous Palestinians.
Israeli artillery units opened fire on Palestinians waiting for humanitarian aid from armored vehicles positioned east of Wadi Gaza.
Warplanes also conducted consecutive air strikes on the Sabra, Jala and Salaseen neighborhoods in Gaza City.
Buildings belonging to the Lawh and Abu Shaban families near Tayaran Junction were targeted, causing injuries and extensive destruction.
Hamas said Israel killed 70 people in Gaza on Oct. 4 despite claims of reducing attacks. The Gaza government media office reported Israel conducted 93 air strikes that day, killing 70 people, including 47 in Gaza City.
At least 67,074 Palestinians, most of them being civilians, which was also confirmed via Israeli intelligence data, have been killed and 169,430 injured in Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip since Oct. 7, 2023.
Trump recently announced that Israel accepted withdrawal to an "initial retreat line" and said a ceasefire would take effect immediately if Hamas confirms the agreement.
Prisoner exchange procedures would follow, Trump noted on Truth Social.
"After negotiations, Israel has accepted the first withdrawal line we showed and shared with Hamas," Trump wrote, calling the Gaza situation "a 3,000-year-old catastrophe" and saying these developments brought it "close to an end."
Hamas accepted the prisoner exchange in Trump's Gaza plan on Oct. 3 and said other provisions required negotiation.
"Based on the statement made by Hamas, I believe they are ready for lasting peace. Israel must immediately stop the bombardment of Gaza so we can get the prisoners out quickly and safely," Trump said.
Trump also said on Truth Social: "I appreciate Israel temporarily stopping the bombings for the release of prisoners and completion of the peace agreement."
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he hopes Israeli prisoners in Gaza, both living and dead, will be released within a week, claiming Israeli forces would continue their "occupation deep in Gaza" during this process.
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