WH suggests Israeli troop withdrawal likely to be ‘refit’

The White House indicated on Sunday that “Israel’s” partial retreat from the southern Gaza Strip is likely for troop rest and reorganization, rather than a signal for the start of a fresh operation.

“They’ve been on the ground for four months, the word we’re getting is they’re tired, they need to be refit,” National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby told ABC‘s This Week, though he affirmed that it was “hard to know exactly what this tells us right now.” 

Elsewhere in his remarks, Kirby said he would let the Israeli army “speak to their operations.”

“As we understand it, and through their public announcements, it is really just about rest and refit for these troops that have been on the ground for four months and not necessarily, that we can tell, indicative of some coming new operation for these troops,” he added.

IOF withdraws troops from southern Gaza

This comes shortly after Israeli media confirmed that the Israeli forces that had entered the southern Gaza Strip in recent months have withdrawn, as more than half a year has passed since the war began with “Israel” failing to achieve its stated objectives.

According to reports, the 98th Division, comprising three brigades, including the 7th Armored Brigade, withdrew from Khan Younis after four months of confrontations there. This marked the first withdrawal since the commencement of the ground invasion.

The reports representing the occupation forces clarified that only one brigade, the Nahal Brigade, remained stationed in the Gaza Strip. It was emphasized that the brigade’s main task was to secure the Netzarim Corridor, to impede the return of Gaza residents to the northern Strip.

In this context, an Israeli military spokesperson informed Reuters, stating, “The army has withdrawn all ground forces from the southern Gaza Strip, except for one battalion.”

The withdrawal comes while the Palestinian Resistance continues to confront occupation forces across multiple fronts, laying precise ambushes and inflicting casualties in Israeli ranks. 

The withdrawal also comes as Egypt prepares itself to host a fresh round of talks aimed at securing a ceasefire and negotiating the prisoner-captive exchange deal. 

The figures, which are according to underreported Israeli sources, revealed that since October 7, 2023, a total of 604 soldiers and officers have been killed, with 260 casualties occurring during the ground invasion into Gaza. Additionally, 3,188 soldiers have been injured during this period.