- Israel said this week that it will be removing some troops from Gaza, suggesting that while it is still dedicated to the war effort, it may be modifying its ground strategy.
- In a statement Monday, the Israel Defense Forces said that two brigades would be pulled back from Gaza this week. Three others would follow at an undisclosed date, the IDF said.
- Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, an IDF spokeswoman, stated on Sunday night that drawing back reservists “will significantly ease the burden on the economy and allow them to gather strength for the upcoming activities in the next year.” This information about the scheduled pullout follows.
- Hagari promised that there will be “prolonged fighting” until 2024, even though Israel may withdraw many thousand soldiers from the five brigades. The action, according to analysts, suggested the military may be changing to a more focused strategy in response to criticism from the US and other nations to lessen the toll that its operations in Gaza take on civilian casualties.
- “This appears to be the start of the gradual shift to lower intensity operations in the north that we have been encouraging, which reflects the success the IDF has had in dismantling Hamas’s military capabilities there,” said a U.S. official who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss Israel’s military operations.
- The IDF declined to provide figures for how many troops would be withdrawn.