The Israeli military announced on Sunday that it is withdrawing its troops from the southern city of Khan Younis, signaling a strategic shift in its approach to the ongoing conflict. While a CNN team stationed along the Gaza border has not observed a large-scale withdrawal of troops, numerous tanks and armored vehicles have been seen exiting the area. The military has stated that this move is aimed at allowing the troops to rest and regroup in preparation for future operations.
These withdrawn forces are now positioned along the border between Gaza and Israel. The timing of this withdrawal, coinciding with the six-month anniversary of Hamas attacks, could potentially impact the ceasefire negotiations scheduled to take place in Cairo on Sunday. Both Israeli and Hamas delegations are expected to participate in these talks.
It remains uncertain how this redeployment will affect the Israeli military's planned activities in Rafah. However, the removal of troops from Khan Younis does not diminish the overall presence of Israeli forces within Gaza. Significant military assets are still operational in the northern part of the region.