Israel said on Sunday — the six-month mark of the ruinous conflict in Gaza — that it was withdrawing all but one brigade from the south of the enclave, describing the move as an opportunity for troops to rest and retool for the next chapter of the war.
The Israel Defense Forces said in a statement that its 98th commando division, which consists of special ground forces, had “concluded its mission” in the city of Khan Younis and left Gaza “to recuperate and prepare for future operations.” The Nahal brigade, made up of ground troops stationed along a corridor that divides northern and southern Gaza, would continue to operate, the army said.
The drawdown announcement Sunday seemed to mirror a withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza City earlier this year, after the army said it had dismantled Hamas brigades in the north and was pivoting to more targeted operations.
On a tour of the IDF’s Southern Command with U.S. ambassador Jack Lew, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said soldiers would now be preparing for the “mission in the Rafah area” along the Egyptian border, home to some 1.4 million displaced Palestinians.
Israel has insisted it must invade Rafah to finish off Hamas’s remaining battalions; the Biden administration has said Israeli officials must first come up with a plan to evacuate civilians in the line of fire.
“The war in Gaza continues, and we are far from stopping,” Herzi Halevi, IDF chief of the general staff, said in a statement Sunday. “We will not…
Read more@BlissfulSw1ngStateGreen1mo1MO
Israel lost the war in Gaza, despite destroying it completely and massacring over 13,000 children.
Hamas still holds Gaza, and Netanyahu's political goals have also not been achieved.
Huge losses in military personnel and military equipment, the northern part of the country was evacuated, the economy was crippled.
The myth of Israel's invincible army has been completely shattered.
And all this is just getting started, Hezbollah is barely scratched. Iran is moving to take the initiative.
@GatoradeKayleeGreen1mo1MO
They've come a long way to go from "everyone in Gaza is Hamas" to "Hamas isn't even Hamas"
A nuclear armed entity, described as the most advanced in the world, can't defeat an estimated 30, 000 fighters
In no way whatsoever have they " won"
It's a humiliating defeat
Palestinian pride has defeated Zionist evil
@BudgetBillCakeGreen1mo1MO
Israel will win the destruction battle - The indomitable Palestinian people will win the war
Literally the only thing not destroyed in Gaza is Hamas.
Shades of Dubbya's "Mission Accomplished!" minues the aircraft carrier. And the banner.
@SheepishBallotVeteran1mo1MO
lol
A sad statement of fact
@OppositionUrchinGreen1mo1MO
International diapers force (IDF) has lost the war actually
@PragmaticTonyForward1mo1MO
Those CRIMINALS must pay for crimes against humanity
@ISIDEWITH1mo1MO
@ISIDEWITH1mo1MO
The historical activity of users engaging with this general discussion.
Loading data...
Loading chart...
Loading the political themes of users that engaged with this discussion
Loading data...