The Israeli army’s 7107 Battalion commander announced its withdrawal from the Gaza Strip after months of combat. The army concentrated its forces in Khan Yunis in the south of the sector while declaring its readiness on the northern front with Lebanon. The withdrawal comes amid reports of Israel reducing its forces in the northern Gaza Strip.
The 7107 Battalion, a combat engineering unit in the reserves, participated in combat in the northern Gaza Strip, according to Israeli media. The announcement of its withdrawal coincides with reports of the army preparing to reduce its presence in the northern sector.
Israeli Defense Minister, Yoav Galant, declared the end of major military operations in the northern Gaza Strip about two weeks ago. Meanwhile, Israeli media reported that Hamas resumed services in areas where Israeli forces reduced their presence.
Israeli officials warned that failure to take action the following day could contribute to Hamas regaining control in Gaza. Currently, the Israeli army is focusing its operations in Khan Yunis, where 7 to 8 brigades are engaged in fierce battles with Palestinian resistance.
Earlier this month, the 36th Division, one of the four military divisions deployed in the war on Gaza since last October, was withdrawn. Before that, the Israeli army withdrew the 13th Battalion in the Golan Brigade in late December, following significant losses in battles with the resistance in the Shuja’iya neighbourhood east of Gaza City.
Raised its readiness on the northern front
On another note, the Israeli army announced on Saturday the elevation of its readiness on the northern front with Lebanon. The army conducted live ammunition battalion-level training exercises, including urban combat for the Northern Reserve Paratroopers Brigade.
The army stated that it is raising its readiness on the northern front, involving exercises at the battalion level with live ammunition and urban combat for the Northern Reserve Paratroopers Brigade. This is part of measures to raise readiness on the northern border, including intensive training to enhance efficiency and readiness for war. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Galant hinted at the possibility of a war against Hezbollah at the northern border amid ongoing exchanges of fire since last October.
Against the backdrop of a devastating war on Gaza, the Israeli-Lebanese border has witnessed intermittent tension and sporadic exchanges of fire between the Israeli army on one side and Hezbollah and Palestinian factions on the other, resulting in casualties on both sides, in addition to casualties among Lebanese civilians. The Israeli army has been waging a destructive war on Gaza since October 7, resulting in significant casualties and unprecedented humanitarian catastrophe, according to UN reports.
