Israeli army prepares gradual withdrawal from Gaza, says Israeli official

The Israel Defense Forces are preparing for a gradual withdrawal from some areas of Gaza due to the ceasefire and hostage agreement expected to come into effect this Sunday, a senior military official said.

“We will adjust our deployment and our gradual withdrawal from specific locations and routes within Gaza, in accordance with the agreement and political levels directly,” the official said this Saturday (18).

The military said the Israeli army’s 162nd Division was currently in northern Gaza and the 143rd Division was in the south, but did not say how they would be affected.

The 99th Division in the Netzarim Corridor — a key buffer zone established by Israeli forces that bisects the Gaza Strip — “would be moving gradually as the deal progresses,” the official said.

The official also repeated Israeli warnings to residents not to approach areas where Israeli troops are stationed, noting that their whereabouts “will obviously change” as the troops withdraw.

Asked about details of the phased withdrawals, the official said forces had been “planning over the last few days and weeks” but that the “political echelon” would ultimately decide.

Understand the conflict in the Gaza Strip

Israel has carried out intense airstrikes in the Gaza Strip since 2023, after Hamas invaded the country and killed 1,200 people, according to Israeli counts. Furthermore, the radical group holds dozens of hostages.

Hamas does not recognize Israel as a state and claims Israeli territory for Palestine.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has repeatedly promised to destroy Hamas’ military capabilities and recover people detained in Gaza.

In addition to the air offensive, the Israeli Army carries out land incursions into Palestinian territory. This caused much of Gaza’s population to be displaced.

The UN and several humanitarian institutions have warned of a catastrophic humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip, with a lack of food, medicine and the spread of diseases.

This content was originally published in Israel Army prepares gradual withdrawal from Gaza, says Israeli official on the CNN Brasil website.

Source: CNN Brasil

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