Israel Reduces Troops In South Gaza As Egypt Set to Host Fresh Talks On Ceasefire

Israel said on Sunday it had withdrawn its forces from the southern Gaza city of Khan Younis, as the warring sides sent teams to Egypt for fresh talks on a potential ceasefire in the six-month conflict.

This move comes as Israel has been reducing numbers in Gaza since the start of the year to relieve reservists. It is under growing pressure from its ally Washington to improve the humanitarian situation, especially after last week’s killing of seven aid workers.

Khan Yunis

Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant said the troops will be preparing for future operations in Gaza. “I arrived at the Southern Command, to closely monitor the departure of IDF forces from Khan Yunis, and the beginning of their preparation for action in Rafah – the last place where we have not yet operated on the ground,” Gallant said in a post on X.

Both Israel and Hamas, the Islamist movement that controls Gaza, confirmed they were sending delegations to Egypt. Hamas wants any deal to bring about an end to the war and withdrawal of Israeli forces. Israel has said that, after any truce, it would topple Hamas, which is sworn to its destruction.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said there would be no deal without a hostage release and that he would not cave to international pressure. Hamas says an agreement must include freedom of movement of residents across the Gaza Strip.

More than 250 hostages were seized and some 1,200 people killed during Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack, according to Israeli tallies. More than 33,100 Palestinians have been killed in the Israeli offensive, according to the health ministry in Gaza. Around 130 hostages are still being held in Gaza. Asked about troop withdrawals from the enclave, Israel’s Chief of the General Staff Herzi Halevi told reporters that the military was adapting its methods to what has been and will be a long war.

Gallant said Israel will press on with the war until Hamas no longer controls Gaza or threatens Israel as a military group. “The forces are exiting and preparing for their next missions,” Gallant said at a meeting with military officials, according to a statement from his office, and “also their coming mission in the Rafah area”.

Israel is under increased pressure from the United States, with President Joe Biden demanding that it improve humanitarian conditions in Gaza and work towards a ceasefire, and saying that U.S. support could depend on that. It was the first time Biden, a staunch supporter of Israel, has sought to leverage US backing to influence Israeli military behaviour. Meanwhile, Israel is also on alert for a possible retaliatory attack from Iran in reaction to the killing of Iranian generals on April 1.

(With agency inputs)