Israel’s military said it was drawing back most forces from a Hamas stronghold in southern Gaza following a major phase of its offensive.
The withdrawal of troops has brought military presence in the territory to one of the lowest levels since the six-month war began.
The forces will recuperate and prepare for future operations while a significant number remain elsewhere in Gaza, said Israeli military officials who spoke on condition of anonymity because they weren’t authorized to speak to the media. The 98th paratroopers division operated around Khan Younis, Israel’s main focus in recent months.
Israeli media reported that only one brigade remains to protect the corridor through which NGOs deliver aid to the north of the Palestinian enclave.
After the incident that killed seven people working for World Central Kitchen, UNRWA volunteers fear to be targeted by Israeli attacks. Concerning this tragedy, the Israeli army now says that two basic mistakes were made: officers ignored a message detailing the vehicles in the convoy, and a spotter saw someone getting into a car, carrying something, possibly a bag, that he thought was a weapon.
Human rights groups and volunteers argue that the problem is not the military’s violations of the rules, but the rules themselves. According to UN Secretary General António Guterres, 196 aid workers have been killed in Gaza since the start of the war.
According to the Hamas-run Health Ministry, more than 33,000 people have been killed in Gaza in six months of war.
The IDF claims to have killed more than 13,000 Hamas operatives in Gaza, and around 1,000 terrorists in Israel on October 7. Israel says it is attacking Hamas fighters and infrastructure and is trying to minimize civilian deaths.
In Egypt, and at a time when pressure on Israel is increasing, indirect talks to end the conflict have resumed.