A spokesperson for the White House stated on Sunday that the Israeli army’s withdrawal from southern Gaza is likely just a “break” for its forces. John Kirby told ABC News, “As we understand it, and based on what they’ve announced, it’s really a period of rest and recuperation for their (Israeli army) forces on the ground for the past 4 months.”
However, the US official clarified that the Israeli withdrawal is not necessarily indicative of “a new and imminent operation by these forces.”
Israel withdrew all its forces from southern Gaza, including Khan Yunis, according to the army and media reports on Sunday, after months of fierce battles with Hamas, which led to widespread destruction in the area.
The army stated that “a large force” will continue to operate in the rest of the besieged Palestinian territory.
An official in the army told Haaretz newspaper, “There is no need for us to stay in the sector without (operational) necessity.” He added, “The 98th Brigade dismantled Hamas battalions in Khan Yunis and killed thousands of its activists; we did everything we could there.”
The conflict in Gaza, which began on October 7, has seen significant and tragic developments, with a continuing toll on human lives and infrastructure. Over six months into Israel’s war on Gaza, there’s no clear indication of the conflict’s direction, with more than 33,000 Palestinians reported killed. Efforts by the international community, including Germany and the UK, emphasize the necessity for Israel to abide by international humanitarian law, amid widespread demands for an immediate halt to arms supplies to Israel due to human rights concerns. Meanwhile, the Israeli army has reportedly started withdrawing most troops from Khan Younis in southern Gaza, though significant forces continue to operate, marking the conflict’s entrance into its seventh month.
The situation around the Khan Younis hospital has been particularly dire, with the Red Crescent reporting heavy shelling and gunfire, and Israel imposing a curfew around Al-Amal Hospital. This situation highlights the acute challenges faced by medical and humanitarian efforts amidst the ongoing violence.
