Amid parleys, Israel pulls out troops from southern Gaza

Tel Aviv, April 8: In a major development, the Israel military said it has withdrawn its ground troops from the southern Gaza Strip, including Khan Younis, Al Jazeera reported.
“Today, Sunday April 7th, the IDF’s 98th commando division has concluded its mission in Khan Younis. The division left the Gaza Strip in order to recuperate and prepare for future operations,” the army said in a statement on Sunday.
“A significant force led by the 162nd division and the Nahal brigade continues to operate in the Gaza Strip and will preserve the IDF’s freedom of action and its ability to conduct precise intelligence based operations,” it said.
This comes as the Israeli military confirmed the report that it has withdrawn its troops from the region, but added that one brigade has remained, without giving further details. An Israeli brigade is typically made of a few thousand soldiers, Al Jazeera reported.
It was unclear whether the reported withdrawal would delay a long-threatened incursion into the southern Gaza city of Rafah, which Israeli leaders have said is needed to eliminate Hamas.
Israel’s defence minister, Yoav Gallant, had also sought to emphasise that an operation in Rafah would take place, without giving details. (ANI)