Still no sign of the end of the war from the Israeli side
Which Israeli troops will remain stationed in Gaza?
Israel’s 98th Division, comprised of paratroopers from the army and the reserves, has pulled out of Gaza’s Khan Younis area after entering the enclave around four months ago to lead the ground offensive in the south of the Palestinian territory.
The Israeli military said a “significant force led by the 162nd division and the Nahal brigade continues to operate in the Gaza Strip”. The 162nd Division, also known as the “Steel Formation”, is part of Israel’s Southern Command and is made up of several brigades, including the Nahal Brigade.
The Nahal Brigade is composed of four battalions, including a reconnaissance battalion. An Israeli brigade is typically made up of a few thousand soldiers.
The Nahal Brigade is tasked with securing the so-called Netzarim Corridor, a recently constructed 6.5km (4-mile) wide passage running from the Mediterranean Sea to the border with Israel and dividing Gaza’s northern and southern territories. With the corridor secured, it is still possible for Israeli troops from other divisions to enter the Strip to carry out raids.
The Times of Israel newspaper reported that the military believed, based on intelligence, that raids would be a more effective method of military operation at this stage of the war.
Israel says troops left Gaza to prepare for more missions, including in Rafah
Israel’s Defence Minister Yoav Gallant says Israeli troops who pulled out of Gaza on Sunday did so to prepare for future operations, including in the enclave’s southern city of Rafah.
“The forces are exiting and preparing for their next missions. We saw examples of such missions in the Shifa operation, and also of their coming mission in the Rafah area,” Gallant said at a meeting with military officials, according to a statement from his office.
Israel’s Chief of General Staff Herzi Halevi said in a televised statement that “the war in Gaza continues, and we are far from stopping. Senior Hamas officials are still hiding. We will reach them sooner or later”.
“We will not leave any Hamas brigades active – in any part of the Gaza Strip. We have plans and will act when we decide,” he said.
Bombing continues regardless
Palestinians killed in Israeli strikes on Nuseirat refugee camp, Rafah: Report
The official Palestinian news agency, Wafa, reports that several civilians have been killed and others injured in an Israeli shelling of Nuseirat refugee camp and Rafah city. Citing medical sources, the media outlet reported that six civilians were killed in Israeli aerial raids targeting a commercial facility in Ain Jalut towers, south of the Nuseirat camp.
Wafa also stated that Israeli warplanes bombed a group of civilians in the town of Nassr, north of Rafah, killing at least one civilian and wounding several others.
Palestinian Civil Defense battles fire after Israeli bombardment on Gaza City
The Palestinian Civil Defense published a video on Telegram, which has been verified by Al Jazeera, showing the moment its crews dealt with a fire that broke out in a shop after it was bombed by Israeli aircraft on Fahmy Bey Street, Palestine Square, in Gaza City.
Two firemen are seen spraying water from hoses onto the bombed-out shop front, which is engulfed in flames. The buildings surrounding the shop are charred and damaged, with rubble strewn across the street and crumpled corrugated iron sheets.
