Israel will not withdraw from the Philadelphi corridor -- the border separating Egypt and Gaza -- as stipulated by the ceasefire agreement between Hamas and Israel.

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

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.

Israel and Hamas have begun working to advance their ceasefire agreement in Gaza to the next phase, but it's unclear if they'll get there and, if not, what comes next.

Since the deal was struck, there’s been a vibe shift in Israel. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is buoyed by the return of US President Donald Trump and under pressure from far-right members of his own cabinet to return to war. The Gaza ceasefire looks increasingly like it may end up being a fleeting interlude.

Israel announced on Thursday it was sending negotiators to Cairo for talks, seeking to extend a first phase of a ceasefire due to expire in two days, in the apparent aim of securing the release of more hostages while delaying any final deal on Gaza's future.

KHAN YOUNIS, Gaza Strip (AP) — Negotiations between Israel and Hamas on the next phase of the Gaza ceasefire began Thursday in the Egyptian capital, Egypt said, averting a collapse of the agreement ahead of Saturday’s expiration of the first phase.

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.