The Israeli Army has announced the withdrawal of its ground troops from the southern Gaza Strip after four months of fighting in the Khan Yunis area and when six months after the start of the war. So, only one Israeli brigade would remain in the enclave Palestinian, which is responsible for securing a corridor between the south of Israel and the Gaza coast, blocking the passage to the north of the Strip and facilitating operations in the center and the north.

The withdrawal of the 98th Division, in charge of land advance along the southern front of the enclave, occurred throughout the night, as reported by Army radio, which later confirmed it officially in a statement.

“The division left the Gaza Strip to recover and prepare for future operations“, states the note, which clarifies that “a significant number of troops will continue operating in the Strip of Gaza to maintain the freedom of action of the IDF (Israel Defense Forces) and its ability to carry out precise operations based on intelligence data.

According to military sources cited by ‘The Times of Israel’, the Israeli Army prefers bet on specific raids hereinafter. The same sources point out that the operation in Khan Younis “has already fulfilled its potential” after the elimination of the local Hamas brigade and the destruction of 30 kilometers of the group’s tunnels. However, troops will return to conduct raids based on new intelligence, similar to how operations are being carried out in northern Gaza.

The 98th Division It was made up of paratroopers, the Commando Brigade and an elite artillery regiment. With his withdrawal, Only the Nahal brigade would remain operational in Gaza, with the mission of securing the Netzarim corridor, which crosses the enclave from the Be’eri kibbutz, south of Israel and border with the enclave, to the Gaza coast, and which Israel uses for its operations in the north and in the center of the Strip. Also will act as a stopper to prevent displaced people from returning to the north.

The US does not believe that it anticipates new operations

For its part, the United States does not believe that the withdrawal of Israeli troops from the south of the Strip is the anticipation of new operations in other sectors of the enclave. This was stated this Sunday by White House spokesman John Kirby on the ‘ABC’ network. “From what we understand, and from the announcements they have made public, It’s just about letting those troops rest and recondition. And it’s not necessarily something that we can say that indicates a new operation coming soon for those troops,” he said.