Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said Monday that the “intensive maneuver phase” of Israel's military offensive in northern and southern Gaza “will end soon.”
The Israeli military is working to “eliminate pockets of resistance” in northern Gaza, Gallant said, adding: “We will achieve this through raids, airstrikes, special operations and additional activities.”
After the October 7 attacks, Gallant said the original plan was for the “intensive maneuvers phase” of Israel's military campaign in Gaza to last approximately three months. But he warned that the Israeli military adapts its operations “according to the reality on the ground” and “our intelligence.”
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced that one of its army divisions had left Gaza on Monday night, in the most significant sign yet of a shift toward a new phase of fighting that some Israeli officials have been in. promising
The IDF said its 36th division, comprising armor, engineering and infantry companies, withdrew from the strip after 80 days.
The brigade operated in the areas of Zeitun, Shati, Shejaiya, Rimal and the Central Camps, the Israeli army added. The IDF did not respond to CNN's questions about whether the withdrawal was temporary, what was behind the withdrawal or how many troops it involved.
