- Israeli military claims withdrawal from southern Gaza amid uncertainty
- White House suggests troop rest as conflict nears conclusion
- Six-month Gaza conflict’s toll includes thousands of casualties
Contradictory reports exist regarding the extent and duration of the Israeli ground forces’ withdrawal from the southern Gaza Strip, including Khan Younis, despite the military’s official statement to the contrary.
“As of today, Sunday, April 7th, the mission of the 98th commando division of the IDF in Khan Younis has been completed. “To prepare for future operations and to recuperate, the division withdrew from the Gaza Strip,” the army said in a statement on Sunday.
“A significant force continues to operate in the Gaza Strip under the command of the Nahal brigade and the 162nd division; this will protect the IDF’s freedom of action and its capacity to conduct precise intelligence-based operations,” the statement continued.
The military informed Reuters of the purported withdrawal but added that a single brigade has persisted without providing additional information. Brigades of Israeli troops typically consist of several thousand individuals.
The potential impact of the purported withdrawal on the long-awaited Israeli incursion into Rafah, a city in southern Gaza, which is deemed essential for the eradication of Hamas by Israeli leaders, remained uncertain.
Yoav Gallant, the defence minister of Israel, emphasised the fact that an operation would occur in Rafah without providing further information.
“The forces are disengaging and making preparations for their subsequent missions; we observed instances of such missions in the al-Shifa operation and their forthcoming mission in the Rafah region,” Gallant reportedly said in a meeting with military officials (as source: statement).
“We have been informed that such a large number of troops is unnecessary to implement this new strategy,” Khan, reporting from occupied East Jerusalem, stated.
The perspective of the Israeli military analysts, however, is marginally different. “According to reports, this may be a force redeployment to prepare for a ground offensive into Rafah,” Khan said, adding that the United States is “adamantly opposed” to the plan.
In response to the partial withdrawal, the White House stated that it would likely afford the personnel the chance to “refuel and rest.”
“According to reports, they are exhausted and require a refit after four months on the ground,” said John Kirby, national security spokesman for the White House.
Twenty-one days of “genocide”
The announcement was made by Israel as its six-month-long war on Gaza approaches its conclusion, leaving a trail of death described by the International Court of Justice as a “plausible case of genocide.”
In the interim, Egypt is making preparations to facilitate a fresh round of negotiations with the objective of achieving a cessation of hostilities in Gaza and securing the release of Hamas-captured individuals.
Hamas stipulated the withdrawal as a condition for reaching an armistice agreement with Israel.
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Since October 7, six months ago, when Hamas attacked Israel, Israel’s offensive in Gaza has been concentrated in the southern portion of the Palestinian enclave.
Rafah has emerged as the final haven for over a million Palestinians who are seeking refuge in the region adjacent to the Egyptian frontier.
Approximately 1,200 individuals were apprehended in total during the attack on October 7, according to Israeli tally books, of which more than 250 were captured.
According to the Gaza Ministry of Health, over 33,100 Palestinians, including 13,800 minors, have been killed in the subsequent Israeli operation.
The United Nations estimates that approximately 1.7 million individuals have been compelled to vacate their residences and seek refuge in shelters. The predicament, as cautioned by the organisation, has the potential to result in extensive catastrophe.
Sunak said the UK is breaking international law by arming Israel
