Israel withdraws almost all troops from southern Gaza Strip
Israel leaves only one brigade in southern Gaza (photo: Getty Images)
On the night of April 7, the Israeli Defense Forces withdrew almost all of its troops from the southern part of the Gaza Strip. Currently, only one Israeli brigade, the Nahal, remains in the Gaza Strip, according to the Times of Israel.
The withdrawal of Israeli troops from the south of the Gaza Strip took place after four months of continuous fighting in the Khan Younis area.
As noted in the Times of Israel, the Nahal Brigade is tasked with ensuring the security of the so-called Netzarim Corridor, which crosses the Gaza Strip from east to west. Israel completed construction of this six-kilometer-long corridor in 2024.
The corridor allows the Israeli Defense Forces to conduct raids in northern and central Gaza, prevents Palestinians from returning to the northern part of the Strip, and allows humanitarian organizations to deliver aid directly to northern Gaza.
War in the Gaza Strip
Last fall, militants of the Hamas terrorist group attacked Israel from the Gaza Strip. In response, Israel sent troops into the Gaza Strip and launched a military operation to eliminate Hamas.
In mid-March, Netanyahu stated that Israel was close to completing the last part of the fighting in the Gaza Strip. According to the Israeli prime minister, the military operation could end in about a month or two.
However, according to Netanyahu, the Israeli army intends to continue the offensive on the city of Rafah on the southern border of the Gaza Strip. Although US President Joe Biden had previously warned in an interview that such an offensive could be a "red line."
