The corridor includes the Rafah crossing, which was Gaza’s only outlet to the outside world not controlled by Israel until the Israeli army captured the entire corridor last May.

The narrow strip of territory contains the vital Rafah Crossing and is key for controlling the flow of goods and people into, and out of, Gaza

The military was supposed to begin withdrawing from that region in early March if the current ceasefire, which expires Saturday, were extended.

Israel announced it will not withdraw from the strategic Philadelphi corridor along Gaza’s border with Egypt, potentially jeopardizing the fragile ceasefire with Hamas.

Israel will not withdraw from a strategic corridor in the Gaza Strip as called for by the ceasefire, an official said Thursday, a refusal that could spark a crisis with Hamas and key mediator Egypt at a sensitive moment for the fragile truce.