Metropolis Desk-
Six months after the commencement of its war, the Israeli military has pulled out more ground forces from the southern Gaza Strip, leaving just one brigade, an official for the force stated on Sunday.
Since the beginning of the year, the military has been withdrawing from Gaza to free up reservists and in response to mounting pressure from Washington, an ally, to alleviate the humanitarian situation. It did not specify the number of soldiers involved or the rationale behind the withdrawal.
Israel and Hamas have declared their attendance in the upcoming round of negotiations that Egypt is set to hold to reach a ceasefire and hostage release agreement.
Benjamin Netanyahu, the prime minister, declared that Israel would not submit to “extreme demands” made by Hamas, the Islamist organization in control of Gaza, or yield to pressure from other countries.
It was unclear if the pullout would stop Netanyahu’s long-awaited raid on Rafah, the southern Gaza city, which he claims is necessary to destroy Hamas.
Residents of Khan Younis, a Palestinian community in southern Gaza that has been under Israeli bombardment recently, claimed to have witnessed Israeli forces withdrawing from the city’s core and moving towards its eastern neighborhoods.
Following Hamas’ surprise strike on Israel on October 7, Israel began an offensive that has concentrated in recent months on the southern part of the Gaza Strip.
An estimated 1,200 people were killed and around 250 hostages were taken during the Oct. 7 raid, according to Israeli estimates. The Gaza Health Ministry reports that the Israeli offensive has claimed the lives of over 33,100 Palestinians.
For the more than a million Palestinians seeking safety in the area close to the Egyptian border, Rafah has emerged as their last remaining destination.
Source- CNN
