US officials said that the Biden administration has urged Israel to engage in less intense fighting in Gaza and withdraw troops, resulting in Israel's move to pull back some forces from combat in the Gaza Strip. This shift indicates a move towards reduced-intensity conflict in the Palestinian enclave, as reported by the state media..
Despite this, fighting continues in northern Gaza, and there have been no immediate alterations to operations in southern Gaza.
The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) announced on Sunday that they were releasing five brigades from combat in Gaza, reflecting the military's increasing control on the ground.
Furthermore, Israeli military officials stated on Monday that they were preparing for the return of residents from certain Gaza border communities, which have largely remained deserted since October 7. This development suggests a decrease in fighting in the northern part of the Strip after three months of intense conflict.
Following the October 7 assault by a terror group ruling the Strip, resulting in the deaths of 1,200 individuals, mostly civilians, and the kidnapping of approximately 240 people to Gaza, Israelis residing within seven kilometers (4.3 miles) of Gaza were predominantly evacuated.
Israel reacted to these attacks with a military campaign, including a significant ground invasion, aimed at eliminating Hamas, ousting it from power in Gaza, and rescuing hostages.
The military anticipates that the fight against the terror group will likely persist throughout 2024, prepared for prolonged combat but in varying phases, different from the high-intensity campaign witnessed so far.
Maj. Gen. Yaron Finkelman, the chief of the IDF's Southern Command, remarked on Monday that the conflict in Gaza "will persist using different methods, varying intensities, and in diverse forms."
Meanwhile, Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi, Chief of Staff of the Israel Defense Forces, highlighted that the military is expanding operations in southern and central Gaza, nearing the dismantling of all of Hamas's battalions in the northern region. However, he cautioned that the war is expected to endure "many more months."
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