(Al Jazeera Media Network) The Israeli military says it has withdrawn its ground troops from the southern Gaza Strip, including Khan Younis, amid conflicting reports about the scale and duration of the disengagement.
“Today, Sunday, April 7th, the IDF’s 98th commando division has concluded its mission in Khan Younis. The division left the Gaza Strip in order to recuperate and prepare for future operations,” the army said in a statement.
“A significant force led by the 162nd division and the Nahal brigade continues to operate in the Gaza Strip and will preserve the IDF’s freedom of action and its ability to conduct precise, intelligence-based operations,” it said.
The military confirmed the reported withdrawal to Reuters news agency, but added that one brigade has remained, without giving further details. An Israeli brigade is typically made of a few thousand soldiers.
It was unclear whether the reported withdrawal would delay a long-threatened incursion into the southern Gaza city of Rafah, which Israeli leaders have said is needed to eliminate Hamas.
Israel defence minister Yoav Gallant sought to emphasize that an operation in Rafah would take place, without giving details.
“The forces are exiting and preparing for their next missions, we saw examples of such missions in the al-Shifa operation, and also of their coming mission in the Rafah area,” Gallant said in a meeting with military officials, according to a statement.
The White House, commenting on the partial withdrawal, said it was likely to be an opportunity for troops to “rest and refit”.
“They’ve been on the ground for four months. The word we are getting is they are tired, they need to be re-fit,” said the White House’s National Security Spokesman John Kirby.
