Wall Street Journal: Israel withdraws thousands of soldiers from the Gaza Strip after US pressure
Israel has withdrawn thousands of its soldiers from the Gaza Strip based on what was described as a “pressure” and influence from the United States, in a move aimed at entering a less intense and more precise phase in its campaign against Hamas, according to a report by the Wall Street Journal on Thursday.
The Wall Street Journal indicated that this withdrawal has raised concerns among some Israeli officials, who believe that it may lead to easing pressure on their strategic goal of eliminating Hamas, which may expose the country to more attacks.
The Wall Street Journal provided an explanation that withdrawing one of the four Israeli divisions from Gaza gives Israel the opportunity to deploy its forces in other areas of tension, such as the West Bank and the border with Lebanon.
Israeli army spokesman Admiral Daniel Hagari stated that Israel currently has three divisions participating in the battles in Gaza, one in the north, the second in the center of the Strip, and the third in the south, indicating that the fourth division, 36, has been withdrawn for rest and training.
He added that the main concentration currently is in Khan Yunis Governorate, which is a Hamas stronghold in the south.
Retired Israeli general, Giora Eiland, confirmed that changes in Israeli tactics have allowed more civilians, including militants, to return to northern Gaza.
Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced on Wednesday that he is committed to the declared war goals, which are the elimination of Hamas.
However, Ahron Bregman, a former expert on the Israeli military and professor of political science at King’s College London, noted that short of a comprehensive victory over Hamas, Israel may be forced to achieve less ambitious goals.
Bregman added, “Although Israel will never officially acknowledge it, the goal of toppling Hamas cannot be achieved, not now and perhaps not in the future”.
Washington has repeatedly urged Israel to carry out precise military operations in Gaza, with the aim of reducing civilian casualties and facilitating the more free distribution of humanitarian aid.
Since the beginning of the conflict, more than 24,000 Palestinians have been killed, most of them women and children, according to Gaza health authorities.
