Israel Pulls Troops From Khan Younis
Israel Pulls Troops From SouthernKhan GazaYounis
The Facts
The Israel Defense Force (IDF) announced Sunday that its 98th Division troops will be withdrawing from the city of Khan Younis in southern Gaza. The 162nd Division will remain in the strip "to preserve the IDF's freedom of action."
Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said troops are "exiting and preparing for their next missions," including "their coming mission in the Rafah area." The US said the move is likely to allow troops to "rest and refit."
The Spin
Israel's withdrawal decision shows that it has achieved many of its stated goals and will now focus on potential Hamas enclaves in other parts of the Strip. Although the IDF may need to enter Rafah, Palestinians are now free to move throughout southern Gaza and Khan Younis.
This troop withdrawal is nothing to celebrate for the Palestinians from southern Gaza, as they have no homes to return to thanks to Israel's bombing campaign. Besides the 33K Palestinians who are dead, those who are alive have no place to return nor the ability to retrieve the bodies of their slain neighbors.
