Israel confirmed its ground forces have withdrawn from the southern region of Gaza due to strategic considerations, a move announced by the national military. This action provokes speculation about the forthcoming moves in the conflict as both Israeli and Hamas representatives journey to Egypt for ceasefire negotiations.
The Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) announced on Sunday that two divisions will maintain their posts in the northern part of the Gaza Strip and the newly established passageway splitting the Wadi Gaza in Palestinian territory. The decision is to ensure the IDF’s operational freedom and to facilitate precise intelligence-based actions.
The primary motivation for the withdrawal is believed to be to offer relief to reserve forces following almost four months of heavy combat in the battered southern city of Khan Younis. It is not viewed as a marked change in military strategy.
An IDF official speaking with Haaretz stated, “Khan Younis doesn’t require our presence. The 98th Division effectively shattered the Khan Younis branch of Hamas, taking out thousands of its operatives. We’ve accomplished everything possible there.”
Israel and Hamas are slated for another round of ceasefire discussions as troops retreat from southern Gaza for strategic reasons. This could potentially allow displaced Palestinian residents to return home. Military experts asserted on Sunday that a prospective ground assault on the southern town of Rafah, which is currently providing shelter for approximately 1.5 million people, could still be a possibility.
Israel has been decreasing its military presence in Gaza since the beginning of the year, aiming to give respite to its reserves. Subsequently, there is increasing pressure from its American ally to enhance the humanitarian situation, especially following last week’s killing of seven humanitarian workers.
Defence Minister Yoav Gallant communicated that the troops would be training for future expeditions in Gaza. Both Israel and Hamas, the dominant Islamist organisation in Gaza, have confirmed that they are sending delegates to Egypt. Despite Hamas wanting to seal a deal to end the war and ensure withdrawal of Israeli forces, Israel remains adamant about overthrowing Hamas after the cessation of hostilities.
Binyamin Netanyahu, the Israeli Prime Minister, clarified that there would be no negotiations without the release of hostages, dismissing international pressure. For any agreement to be reached, Hamas insists that people should be allowed uninhibited movement across the Gaza Strip.
During the October 7th onslaught by Hamas, Israeli reports indicate that approximately 250 hostages were taken and 1,200 lives were lost. The Gaza health ministry purports that over 33,100 Palestinians have died in the Israeli counter-offensive.
Currently, there are around 130 hostages remaining in Gaza. When queried about the military’s withdrawal from the enclave, Herzi Halevi, the chief of General Staff in Israel, mentioned to journalists that the military strategy was undergoing changes due to the protracted war.
Mr Gallant made it clear that until Hamas is no longer governing Gaza or posing a military threat to Israel, the war efforts would continue. “The forces are withdrawing and getting ready for their upcoming missions,” Mr Gallant discussed with military personnel during a meeting, according to a statement from his office.
Israel is indicating that a intrusion into the Rafah area, which is located near the Egyptian border, is required to dismantle Hamas. However, international powers have expressed worry that this could lead to a high civilian death toll, considering more than a million people are taking shelter in that area. Israel intends to evacuate civilians before commencing an incursion.
After months of Israeli attacks, residents in the southern Gaza city of Khan Younis reported seeing Israeli troops retreating from the city centre to eastern districts. Medics on the ground found at least 12 Palestinian corpses in the area.
With Israeli forces withdrawing, some residents from Khan Younis, who had taken shelter in Rafah, have started to return home. “The occupiers are leaving Khan Younis, there is pressure from the Americans following the death of some foreigners, and a significant meeting with the Americans, Israelis, Hamas, and Qatar is being organised by Egypt. We are hopeful this time,” shared Imad Joudat, a resident of Rafah, through a chat app to Reuters, optimistically referring to Eid al-Fitr, a Muslim holiday, as possibly a happy one.
The United States, led by President Joe Biden, is ramping up pressure on Israel, seeking an improvement in the humanitarian situation in Gaza and initiating a ceasefire, asserting that American support may hinge on these conditions. Notably, it marks Biden’s first-time use of US backing as a tool, in spite of his strong support for Israel, to sway Israeli military practices. The US is a chief provider of military weaponry to Israel.
Additionally, Biden has called on Egypt and Qatar’s leadership to influence Hamas to concede to a ceasefire and hostage deal, ahead of imminent talks set in Cairo. Israel, in relation, is bracing for a potential retaliatory strike from Iran in response to Iranian generals’ extermination on April 1st.
Moreover, mass protests took place in Jerusalem last Sunday as an appeal for the release of approximately 130 hostages still detained in Gaza following six months of Israel’s conflict with Hamas. However, anticipation is tinged with caution as previous negotiation attempts have yielded no results and several hostages have perished in captivity.
Michal Nachshon, a 39-year-old protestor attested to the collective exhaustion, stressing the universal need to reclaim the hostages. She stressed that their plea transcended politics and religion and asserted that it was fundamentally a humanitarian concern. Although some bereaved parents at the rally urged Netanyahu to increase efforts to reclaim the hostages, majority of the messages were apolitical, underscoring their grief and diffusing their urgent plea for their dear ones’ return. (Source: Guardian/Reuters)
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