Israeli Forces Withdraw 5 Brigades from Gaza Strip Battlefield

Measures Following Decrease in Hamas Rocket Attacks
"Preparations for a Prolonged Conflict"

The Israeli military plans to withdraw five brigades it had deployed in the Gaza Strip from the battlefield. This is interpreted as a reduction of forces and preparation for a prolonged conflict, following a significant decrease in rocket attacks by the Palestinian armed faction Hamas.

The Israeli military is conducting a ground operation in the Gaza Strip, Palestine. [Image source=Yonhap News]

According to reports by local media such as the Times of Israel on the 31st of last month (local time), the Israeli military will withdraw the 460th Armored Brigade, which was responsible for armored troop training in the Gaza Strip, the 251st Brigade, which served as a wartime officer school, and the 828th Brigade, which functioned as a professional soldier and squad leader school for infantry battalions, from the Gaza Strip. Two reserve brigades, the 14th Reserve Armored Brigade and the 551st Reserve Airborne Brigade, are also slated for withdrawal.

The three brigades responsible for training duties in the Gaza Strip will return to their bases to perform peacetime missions, while the reserve units will return to industrial sites to help restore the Israeli economy. Instead, four division-level forces will remain in the Gaza Strip to continue combat operations. The 162nd Division is stationed in the Daraj and Tufah areas of Gaza City, the largest city in the Gaza Strip, the 36th Division is stationed in Al-Bureij in central Gaza, and the 98th and 99th Divisions remain in the southern regions such as Khan Yunis, where fierce battles with Hamas are ongoing.

Local media analyzed that the reduction of Israeli forces in the Gaza Strip is a measure taken as the Israeli military has gained control over Hamas facilities on the ground through ongoing battles, resulting in a significant decrease in Hamas rocket launches. According to Israeli military statistics, after the temporary ceasefire with Hamas ended, an average of 75 rockets (excluding mortars) were launched daily during the first week of this month (1st to 7th), but this number sharply declined to an average of 23 per day from the 8th to the 14th, 16 per day from the 15th to the 21st, and 14 per day from the 22nd to the 27th. On this day, not a single rocket was launched throughout the day. However, the daily Jerusalem Post reported that ahead of the transition to the 'third phase'?which involves concluding the main war and moving into a prolonged campaign to eradicate Hamas?the Israeli military has expanded operations in areas such as Khan Yunis.

Daniel Hagari, the chief spokesperson for the Israeli military, explained that adjustments in troop deployment are underway in preparation for a prolonged conflict. He emphasized, "This adjustment is to ensure plans and preparations for 2024," adding, "We must understand the additional missions and ongoing battles that will continue throughout the coming year and plan in advance."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.