By Maps: The remaining Israeli army forces inside Gaza and their deployment locations

Israeli army forces penetrated into the Gaza Strip with 5 main military brigades at the beginning of the war, gradually withdrawing some of its brigades and main units during its continuous aggression on the sector, raising questions about the withdrawn and remaining forces there.

“Sunna Files” monitored in this report the withdrawal of Israeli army forces from the Gaza Strip, their deployment there, their military operational areas, and the areas they invaded.

It appears from the areas of deployment of the Israeli army forces, according to what is officially published and covered by Hebrew and Palestinian media outlets, that they retained the maximum number of their forces in southern Gaza, in addition to other forces in the central sector of the Strip. Meanwhile, they retained some of their forces in the northern area, which witnessed the concentration of the Israeli army’s withdrawal.

The remaining Israeli army forces in Gaza’

The Israeli army radio officially reported that there are currently 3 brigades of the army in Gaza, namely: 99, 98, and 162.

Brigade 98 is concentrating its operations in Khan Yunis to the south.

Brigade 99 occupies Wadi Gaza, which divides the sector into two parts; northern and southern.

Brigade 162 operates in the northern areas, especially Beit Hanoun and Jabalia refugee camps.

In Khan Yunis alone, there are still 7 brigades fighting in southern Gaza, after originally being four.

The military analyst for the Israeli newspaper “Maariv,” Tal Lev Ram, explained that the only maneuvering brigade currently operating at full capacity is Brigade 98 in Khan Yunis to the south. He mentioned that the battalions and special forces operating in this area belong to this brigade.

Brigade 99 is working on “securing the Wadi Gaza corridor” and launching attacks on the Nusseirat, Al-Bureij, and Al-Maghazi camps in the central Gaza Strip.

Brigade 162 operates in the northern sector of the Strip and is the main force of armoured and infantry units within the Israeli army forces.

Withdrawal of the Israeli army

The Israeli army consists of 11 main brigades, 5 of which participated at the beginning of the Gaza war (Operation Al-Aqsa Torrent) since October 7, 2023, with 2 brigades withdrawn and 3 remaining in the sector.

While 6 brigades did not participate due to some working on the borders with Lebanon, others in the West Bank, and others being reserve brigades that initially participated in the war but were gradually withdrawn.

The most prominent brigades withdrawn from the special forces are:

1- Brigade 36, which is an armored brigade and the largest military formation operating in the Israeli army forces, including the elite “Golani” Infantry Brigade, Armored Brigade 188, Armored Brigade 7, Artillery Battalion 334, Artillery Battalion 405, and Artillery Battalion 411, all of which were withdrawn from Gaza.

2- Brigade 252, called the Sinai Brigade, was withdrawn in December 2023, as announced by the occupation army, “after completing its mission in northern Gaza,” according to its expression. This brigade was operating in northern Gaza.

As for the battalions, in addition to all battalions of Brigades 36 and 252, all of the following were withdrawn:

Battalions: Paratrooper Reserve Brigade 551, Armored Reserve Brigade 14, in addition to training battalions: Infantry and Profession Leaders School Brigade (Bislamakh), Armored Corps School Brigade 460, and Officer School Brigade 261.

In addition to special forces and elite units:

“Golani” Brigade, Brigade 35 (Paratroopers Brigade), Unit (Shayetet 13), and Unit “Duvdevan” (Unit 217).

Despite the presence of Brigades 98, 99, and 162, some units were also withdrawn, including:

Paratrooper Brigade 551 from Brigade 98, Brigades 261 and 460 from Brigade 162, and Brigade 828 from Brigade 36. All these battalions that have suffered significant losses recently, the occupation army announced that they “can return to Gaza after being combat-ready again, after arranging many matters.”

Thus, Brigade 99 assumed operational responsibility in place of these battalions according to “Haaretz”.

At the same time, “Israel Today” newspaper explained that Brigade 36, which withdrew from Gaza, includes Golani, Sixth, Seventh, 188, and Engineering Brigade battalions, while this brigade is the largest regular armoured brigade in the Israeli army forces.

Timeline of Israeli army withdrawals

The withdrawal of the Israeli army from northern Gaza, in particular, focused on the brigades, battalions, and units that carried out their aggression there.

The Israeli occupation justified these withdrawals as part of entering the third stage of the war, which involves transitioning from intensive bombing to targeted bombing.

The third stage, according to the American newspaper The New York Times, involves reducing the number of ground forces, airstrikes on the sector, and transitioning the war to a new stage that relies more on precise missions carried out by small groups of elite Israeli forces that will move inside and outside population centres in the Gaza Strip with the aim of reaching Hamas leaders and targeting them, rescuing hostages, and destroying tunnels.

The timeline of the largest withdrawals is as follows:

December 31, 2023: The Israeli army decided to discharge 5 combat brigades from the ground battle in the Gaza Strip, according to its official radio.

December 21, 2023: Major battalions from the “Golani” Brigade in the Israeli army forces withdrew from the Gaza Strip, “to catch their breath after suffering severe losses,” according to “The Wallah” news website and “Channel 12”.

January 1, 2024: The Israeli army announced that Brigades 551 and 14, composed of reserve soldiers, would return to their families and civilian life this week.

The Israeli army explained that Brigade 828, which trains brigade commanders, Brigade 261, which trains army officers, and Brigade 460, which trains armoured corps, would return to their scheduled training.

January 15, 2024: The Israeli army radio announced the withdrawal of “Brigade 36” from the Gaza Strip, which includes the “Golani” Brigade.

Also on January 15, Haaretz newspaper reported that the Israeli army withdrew the “Duvdevan” special unit from the Gaza Strip to the West Bank amid fears of deteriorating conditions there.

January 22, 2024: The Israeli occupation army announced that soldiers from Brigade 900 (Kfir Brigade) left Khan Yunis in southern Gaza to the West Bank to raise readiness and were replaced by other forces.