The Israel Defense Forces (Tzahal) began withdrawing five brigades from the Gaza Strip, where the anti-terrorist operation against Hamas is underway.
What is the situation in Gaza?
According to IDF spokesman Daniel Hagar, the military is increasingly in control of the situation on the ground. They also admit that the war against Islamists is likely to continue in 2024, but will not be as intense as in recent months.
We adapt the methods of warfare to each area of Gaza and selecting the necessary forces to best accomplish the mission. Each region has its own characteristics and different operational needs, the IDF spokesman said.
He added that Israel's goals in the war against Hamas require prolonged fighting, but the Israeli military is prepared for it accordingly, the spokesman said.
What is known about Hamas attack on Israel
On 7 October 2023, Hamas militants attacked southern Israel and killed nearly 1,400 people, mostly civilians. They took more than 240 people hostage and took them to the Gaza Strip.
In response, Israel began bombing the exclave, and on 25 October launched a ground operation, declaring its goal to completely destroy Hamas.
During the IDF's operation in the Gaza Strip, more than 7,000 Hamas militants were killed, but the head of Israel's National Security Staff, Tzachi Hanegbi, claims that the real figure is much higher — the Israeli side does not know how many terrorists may be under the rubble of destroyed buildings or in tunnels.
According to the Hamas-controlled health service, more than 20,000 people have died in the Gaza Strip. They note that these are civilians, but there may be militants among them. It is impossible to confirm these figures from independent sources.
During the week-long ceasefire that began on 24 November, Israel managed to release more than 100 hostages. In exchange, Israel released about 240 Palestinians from prison.
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