Israel is withdrawing tanks from some areas of Gaza City on Monday, according to residents, announcing plans to change tactics and reduce troop numbers, but fighting continues in other parts of the Palestinian territory with heavy shelling.
Gradual Shift to Lower Intensity Operations
A U.S. official announced that the decision indicates the beginning of a shift toward lower intensity operations in the northern Palestinian territory. Hints about a slowdown in Gaza came as the U.S. Navy announced that the aircraft carrier Gerald R. Ford would return to its home port in Virginia after its deployment in the Mediterranean following the outbreak of hostilities.
Impact of Withdrawal on the Israeli Economy
An Israeli official stated that the reduction of troops would allow some reservists to return to civilian life, boost the Israeli economy affected by the war, and pave the way for other units in case of a broader conflict in the north with Iran-backed Hezbollah.
Tensions on the Lebanese Border
Artillery exchanges between Hezbollah and Israel have continued along the border since the conflict in Gaza began, with Israeli forces announcing they conducted an airstrike on Monday. Residents and security sources said the Israeli raids targeted houses in the Lebanese village of Kfar Kila near the border, resulting in the deaths of three people. Hezbollah later announced on its Telegram account that the three were militants of the group.
Regional Developments
Any new escalation carries the risks of a wider regional war. Iran-backed fighters in Yemen have attacked shipments in the Red Sea, prompting a U.S. military response, and Iranian warships have sailed in the waterway, according to Iranian media on Monday.
Suffering in Gaza
The bombing campaign in Gaza has displaced most of its residents from their homes, prompting Israel’s Western allies, including the United States, to urge it to scale back its military offensive. Eleven-year-old Lian Harrah from Rafah in Gaza said, “My wish for 2024 is not to die… Our childhood is over. There’s no bathroom, no food, no water. There are only tents.” In the city’s zoo, people have sought shelter among the cages containing the animals that have been affected.
Developments in Gaza
Residents of the Sheikh Radwan neighborhood in Gaza City, the northern part of the territory where Israeli attacks were initially concentrated, said tanks withdrew after more than 10 days of intense fighting since the conflict began. Nasser, a father of seven living in Sheikh Radwan, said, “The tanks were very close. We could see them outside our homes. We couldn’t go out to fill water.” Tanks also withdrew from the Al-Mina neighborhood in Gaza City and parts of the Tal Al-Hawa neighborhood, while still maintaining some positions in the suburb controlling the main coastal road of the territory, according to residents.
Ongoing Fighting
Fighting continued unabated in parts of central Gaza, according to residents there, with tanks advancing towards Al-Bureij and airstrikes targeting Al-Nuseirat, Al-Maghazi, and the southern city of Khan Younis. The strikes resulted in the deaths of at least 10 people in Al-Maghazi and seven in a house in Deir al-Balah, according to health officials.
New Moves by Hamas
Hamas demonstrated its continued ability to target Israel after more than 12 weeks of warfare, launching a series of rockets at Tel Aviv during the night.
New Israeli Moves
Israel’s move comes as it enters a new phase in the conflict after the initial bombardment and ground invasion that began on October 27. Air and artillery strikes continued to bombard the entire territory during that period, causing significant destruction.
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The Israeli tanks and troops advance in most of northern Gaza, and as they continue to push forward in the center and parts of the south, Hamas responds with unconventional ambush operations from tunnels and hideouts in the narrow streets of the enclave.
Hamas took 240 hostages on October 7, and Israel believes that 129 of them are still being held in Gaza after some were released during a brief truce and others were killed during airstrikes or rescue attempts or while trying to escape. Qatar and Egypt are working to negotiate a ceasefire and a hostage agreement.
Avi Dichter, a member of the Israeli Security Council, said in an interview with Kan Radio that the hostages can only be freed by applying “massive” pressure on Hamas and its allied groups. He stated, “Without destroying Hamas’s terrorist infrastructure and dismantling its governmental capabilities, the war will not end.”
On Saturday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that the country must regain control over the border between Gaza and Egypt, which is currently crowded with civilians fleeing the massacres in the rest of the enclave.
Washington has stated that Israel must allow the Palestinian government to take control of Gaza once the conflict is over.
In the occupied West Bank, 2023 has been the deadliest year for Palestinians, with 307 killed since the war in Gaza began on October 7, according to the United Nations.
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