The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced on Sunday that it had withdrawn its troops from southern Gaza following US President Joe Biden’s call for an “immediate ceasefire” last week. Hamas declared victory on the news.
The decision, taken on Israel’s six-month anniversary of the October 7 attack, came as a surprise as Israeli negotiators flew to Cairo to negotiate hostages. Hamas has called for a ceasefire before any new deal.
The IDF will leave one brigade in Gaza, whose role will be to allow Israeli forces to return if necessary. It also plans to carry out targeted operations, such as the successful attack on Shifa hospital last month.
jerusalem post report:
I.D.F. On Sunday, it announced that it had ended the active invasion phase of the war for the time being, leaving open the possibility of a new invasion in the future into Rafah in Gaza’s deep south.
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A senior IDF official said the change had nothing to do with U.S. pressure, but it comes on the heels of a tragic incident in which the IDF accidentally killed seven humanitarian aid workers last week. was an undeniable fact.
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Hamas immediately declared a victory for the withdrawal of the IDF, including its forces in northern Gaza, by sticking to its position demanding even a partial withdrawal of the IDF.
As reported by Breitbart News, Biden spoke out last Tuesday after an Israeli Defense Force drone team accidentally killed seven World Central Kitchen aid workers, mistaking them for Hamas terrorists. demanded an immediate ceasefire.
This incident was Hamas’ biggest success in the war. There is evidence that terrorists deliberately confused the IDF about the vehicles. Hamas uses human shields and civilian casualties as part of its asymmetric warfare strategy.
Biden’s request comes after the US has already authorized the UN Security Council to pass a resolution adopting Hamas’ core demands and separating the cease-fire and the agreement to return the approximately 130 remaining Israeli hostages. It was conducted.
The Biden administration also opposed Israeli operations in Rafah, a town near the Egyptian border that is Hamas’ last stronghold and key to Israel’s victory in the war. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in February that such an operation would end the war in “weeks” rather than “months,” but Biden has refused to support Israel and said if Israel does not comply, He hinted that the US would cut its arms and ammunition supplies.
Biden faced electoral considerations after Muslim and Arab-American voters in the key battleground state of Michigan threatened not to support him and young “progressive” voters sided with the Palestinians. They seem to be responding.
Israel also has other threats to worry about. Iran has been using Lebanese Hezbollah proxies to intimidate Israel’s northern regions for several days, threatening to attack directly. Some Israeli Defense Force troops from Gaza are being moved north.
The possibility of losing US support and ammunition on the eve of a possible war in the north, far more violent than the Gaza conflict, is also likely to motivate Israel to follow Biden’s stance.
However, Israeli citizens may not accept the government’s decision. Israelis want the mission in Gaza to be completed. Only a successful hostage deal could appease critics as domestic pressure mounts on Netanyahu’s government.
There is one additional consideration. It’s the US election in November. Israel may have decided that given Biden’s growing and perhaps enduring hostility, its best chance of defeating its enemy comes with a change in the White House.
Joel B. Pollack is a senior editor at Breitbart News. Breitbart News Sunday Sunday nights from 7:00 PM to 10:00 PM ET (4:00 PM to 7:00 PM PT) on Sirius XM Patriot. He is the author of a recently published e-book.The Zionist conspiracy (and how to join it)‘ is now available on Audible. He is also the author of an e-book. Neither Free nor Fair: The 2020 US Presidential Election. He is the recipient of the 2018 Robert Novak Journalism Alumni Fellowship. Follow him on Twitter @joelpolak.
