Israel plans to partially withdraw its troops from Gaza in the coming months, as the war with Hamas enters a new phase on Monday.
The Israel Defense Forces will now shift to more targeted operations against Hamas, reducing the use of artillery and airstrikes. According to Reuters, some reservists who were brought up for active duty will also return to civilian life to stimulate the economy.
However, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reiterated this weekend that the war will continue for several more months.
“This will take at least six months and involve intensive clearance operations against terrorists. No one is talking about peace doves flying from Shajaiya,” an Israeli official said, referring to the Gaza Strip.Reuters told.
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On Monday, Israel plans to partially withdraw its troops from Gaza in the coming days as its war with Hamas enters a new phase. (AP Photo/Ohad Zwigenberg)
The move comes weeks after President Biden's administration urged Israel to scale back attacks in the Gaza Strip and do more to prevent civilian casualties.
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Israeli forces control virtually all of Gaza, but resistance forces remain based in Hamas's labyrinth of tunnels beneath the region.
Israeli soldiers are seen inside a tunnel that the military said was used by Hamas terrorists to attack the Erez crossing in the northern Gaza Strip on Friday, December 15th. (AP/Ariel Shalit)
The Israeli military has also yet to capture the war's biggest prize, Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar. Mr. Sinwar and his brother, who heads a southern Hamas unit, have fled Israeli forces throughout the conflict.
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The Israeli military has also yet to capture the war's biggest prize, Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar. Mr. Sinwar and his brother, who heads a southern Hamas unit, have fled Israeli forces throughout the conflict. (TPS (Mansion) and Getty Images (Sinwar))
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Meanwhile, the U.S. military has sought to prevent Israel's war from escalating into a broader regional conflict.
Iranian-backed terrorist groups in Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, and Yemen have all attacked U.S. or Israeli forces in some way since October.
Reuters contributed to this report.
