DrAn Israeli army spokesman said that the army withdrew every brigade of its ground forces except one brigade from the southern Gaza Strip. The spokesman said on Sunday that a brigade would remain there but did not initially provide further details. The Israeli brigade usually consists of a few thousand soldiers.
The forces were withdrawn from the city of Khan Yunis in the south. The army said in a statement, “The 98th Commando Detachment has completed its deployment in Khan Yunis.” She left the Gaza Strip “to recover and prepare for further operations.” However, there are still significant forces in the Gaza Strip.
The withdrawal comes as Egypt – the mediator in the war alongside Qatar and the United States – prepares to host a new round of talks aimed at negotiating a ceasefire and the release of the hostages. On Sunday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu linked the ceasefire to the release of the Israeli hostages. He said he would not give in to „extremist” demands.
It is unclear whether the withdrawal of forces from Khan Yunis could delay the long-threatened Israeli military invasion of the city of Rafah on the border with Egypt or whether it represents a new interim stage on the way to an operation in Rafah. According to the Israeli leadership, the invasion is necessary to ultimately defeat the Hamas terrorist organization. The war in the Gaza Strip began with the attack on southern Israel on October 7. In recent months, a large-scale Israeli counterattack has focused on the southern Palestinian territories.
More than a million people fled the north due to Israeli attacks on the southern Gaza Strip. Rafah has become the last refuge and the situation for the people there is very difficult. There is a shortage of food, medicine and shelter.
According to Israeli figures, about 1,200 people were killed in a Hamas attack six months ago and more than 250 people were taken hostage in the Gaza Strip. According to the local health authority, under Hamas control, at least 33,175 people have been killed in Israeli attacks in the Palestinian territories since the beginning of the war. At least 75,886 Palestinians were also injured.