JERUSALEM/CAIRO: Israel said on Sunday (April 7) that it had withdrawn more troops from southern Gaza, leaving just one brigade, as it and Hamas sent a team to Egypt for new talks on a potential ceasefire in the six-month conflict.
Israel has reduced the number of refugees in Gaza since the start of this year to reduce the number of reserve troops, as it comes under increasing pressure from its ally Washington to improve the humanitarian situation, especially after the killing of seven aid workers last week.
A military spokesman did not provide details regarding the reasons for the troop withdrawal or the number of troops involved. But Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said his troops would prepare for future operations in Gaza.
Both Israel and Hamas, the militant movement that controls Gaza, confirmed they were sending delegations to Egypt.
Hamas wants any deal to end the war and the withdrawal of Israeli troops. Israel says that, after any ceasefire, it will oust Hamas, which it has vowed to destroy.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said there would be no deal without the release of the hostages and he would not give in to international pressure. Hamas said the agreement should include people’s freedom of movement throughout the Gaza Strip.
More than 250 hostages were captured and around 1,200 people were killed in Hamas attacks on October 7, according to an Israeli tally. More than 33,100 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli attacks, according to the health ministry in Gaza.
About 130 hostages are still being held in Gaza. When asked about the withdrawal of troops from the enclave, Chief of the Israeli General Staff Herzi Halevi told reporters that the military was adapting its methods to the war that has been and will be for a long time.
Gallant said Israel will continue the war until Hamas no longer controls Gaza or threatens Israel as a military group.
“The troops are out and preparing for their next mission,” Gallant said at a meeting with military officials, according to a statement from his office, and “also their upcoming mission in the Rafah area.”
PALESTINIAN HOPE
Israel says an attack on the Rafah region, near the border with Egypt, is necessary to eliminate Hamas, but worried foreign countries say such an attack could cause unacceptable casualties, with more than a million people taking refuge there.
Israel said it would evacuate civilians before launching an attack.
Palestinian residents of the town of Khan Younis in southern Gaza, which has been the target of Israeli bombardment in recent months, said they had seen Israeli troops leave the town center and retreat to eastern districts.
Medics said they found at least 12 bodies of Palestinians in the area. Several residents of Khan Younis who had been sheltering in Rafah began to return to their neighborhood after the Israeli troops left.
“It seems that in the end it will be a happy Eid,” said Imad Joudat, 55, who lives with eight family members in a tent in Rafah, referring to the Eid al-Fitr holiday which starts mid-week.
“The occupation withdrew troops from Khan Younis, America applied pressure after several foreigners were killed and Egypt launched a major offensive with America, Israel, Hamas and Qatar. This time we are full of hope,” Joudat told Reuters via a chat application.
Israel is under increasing pressure from the United States, with President Joe Biden demanding that Israel improve humanitarian conditions in Gaza and seek a ceasefire, and saying that US support could depend on that.
This is the first time Biden, a staunch supporter of Israel, has sought to leverage US support to influence Israel’s military behavior. The US is the main supplier of weapons to Israel.
Biden also urged the leaders of Egypt and Qatar to pressure Hamas to agree to a ceasefire and hostage deal ahead of a new round of talks in Cairo.
Israel is also wary of possible retaliatory attacks from Iran in reaction to the killing of an Iranian general on April 1.
PROTESTS AGAINST NETANYAHU
In Tel Aviv, tens of thousands of Israelis protested against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Saturday (April 6) as Israel’s war against Hamas in Gaza reached the half-year mark.
Organizers said about 100,000 people had gathered at a Tel Aviv street intersection renamed “Democracy Square” since mass protests against controversial judicial reforms last year.
The AFP report said the protesters chanted “elections now”, as well as calling for Netanyahu to resign from office.
Demonstrations were also held in other cities, with Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid taking part in Kfar Saba before his departure for talks in Washington.
