Brigades of reserve fighters began leaving the Gaza Strip in recent days as part of the war plan approved by the political cabinet. These are thousands of fighters who will be released to their homes, while the army will continue to maintain the passage between the north and south and prevent the passage of armed men or civilians, at this stage, back to the northern Gaza Strip.
Documentation of IDF forces' activity in the Gaza Strip (archive) // IDF Spokesperson
In the central and southern Gaza Strip, the war is expected to continue into the coming year in order to meet the goals of the war: the collapse of Hamas' military and governmental capabilities. Despite various reports, political sources clarify that the objectives of the fighting have not changed, the transition to the third phase of the war, which will be characterized by focused activity, was already determined at a meeting of the Political Security Cabinet on October 25, and the army's actions are now derived from it.
A diplomatic source who spoke to Israel Hayom does not deny that Israel's ground operations and the withdrawal of some of the forces are in line with American wishes, but that this coordination is retrospective and not initial. In other words, Israeli war plans that meet the US administration in a "convenient" place. The ground maneuver phase, in which IDF forces managed to operate significantly in Khan Yunis and Gaza as well, will now move to a stage called "deepening the achievement," in which the forces in the Gaza Strip will continue to strive to destroy the enemy's capabilities over a period of time estimated to last several months.
The war continues despite the dilution of forces
Political sources stressed today that the war continues and will continue despite the movement of forces and their dilution in some areas. The army says there are no operational grounds to keep the forces in the Gaza Strip any longer, and the reservists' departure for "refreshment" is intended to allow them to regroup in order to be called up again during the coming year. What was not said in those conversations to the fighters was the preparedness that Israel must hold on to for development in the northern arena. Despite the investment in the political process to withdraw Hezbollah forces to the Litani region, Israel believes that the threat will remain in place and will have to be dealt with militarily as well.
The activity of the forces in the Gaza Strip, photo: IDF Spokesperson
This evening, the War Cabinet will hold expanded discussions on the "day after" in Gaza, but a political source claims that these discussions will not be decided because the end of operational operations in Gaza is only planned for another year. The purpose of the discussions will be to present the various alternatives to civilian rule in the Gaza Strip, Israel's security protection of the border with Gaza, and American "expectations." The alternatives will be presented by National Security Council head Tzachi Hanegbi together with Minister Ron Dermer, who will present his talks with Biden administration officials on the issue. At no point in the coming months does Israel intend to relinquish its grip on the Gaza Strip and intends to complete the mission that the forces embarked on in October, a diplomatic source said.
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