Israel said on Sunday Withdraw more troops from southern GazaOnly one brigade remains as it and Hamas send teams to Egypt for new talks on a possible ceasefire in the six-month conflict.

Israel has been reducing its presence in Gaza since the start of the year to ease the number of reservists and has faced growing pressure from its ally Washington to improve the humanitarian situation, especially after seven aid workers were killed last week After being killed.

A military spokesman did not elaborate on the reasons for the withdrawal or the number of people involved. But Defense Minister Yove Galante said troops would prepare for future operations in Gaza.

Israel and Hamas, the Islamist movement that controls Gaza, have both confirmed they will send delegations to Egypt.

Hamas wants any deal that ends the war and withdraws Israeli troops. Israel says it will oust Hamas, which it has vowed to destroy, after a ceasefire.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said there would be no deal without releasing the hostages and that he would not bow to international pressure. Hamas said the agreement must include freedom of movement for residents in the Gaza Strip.

More than 250 hostages were held, some of whom were detained. Hamas attack kills 1,200 on October 7, according to Israeli statistics. According to the Gaza Health Ministry, more than 33,100 Palestinians have been killed in the Israeli offensive.

About 130 hostages are still being held in Gaza. Asked about withdrawing troops from the enclave, Israeli Chief of Staff Hezi Halevi told reporters that the military was adapting its approach to the long war that has and will take place.

Galante said Israel would continue to press forward with the war until Hamas no longer controls Gaza or threatens Israel as a military organization.

Galante told a meeting with military officials that “troops are withdrawing in preparation for their next mission” and “their upcoming mission in the Rafah area,” according to a statement from Galante’s office.

hope for palestine

Israel says it needs to invade the Rafah area near the Egyptian border to eliminate Hamas, but anxious foreign powers say it could take an unacceptable toll on civilians, where more than a million people have taken refuge.

Israel said it would evacuate civilians before launching an invasion.

Palestinian residents of the southern Gaza city of Khan Younis, which has been hit by Israeli bombardments in recent months, said they saw Israeli troops leaving the city center and retreating to the east.

Medical staff said they found at least 12 Palestinian bodies in the area. After the Israeli army left, some residents of Khan Younis, who had been taking refuge in Rafah, began returning to their communities.

“It looks like it could be a happy Eid in the end,” said Imad Joudat, 55, who lives with his family of eight in a tent in Rafah, referring to the holiday that started last week. The Muslim Eid al-Fitr holiday begins.

“The occupation forces have withdrawn their troops from Khan Younis, the United States has put pressure on Egypt after some foreigners were killed, and Egypt is fighting with the United States, Israel, Hamas and Qatar,” Judat told Reuters via a chat app. A big round. This time we are hopeful.”

Israel is facing increasing pressure from the United States, with President Joe Biden demanding that it improve humanitarian conditions in Gaza and work toward a ceasefire, saying U.S. support may depend on it.

This is the first time Biden, a staunch supporter of Israel, has sought to use U.S. support to influence Israeli military behavior. The United States is Israel’s main arms supplier.

Biden also urged the leaders of Egypt and Qatar to pressure Hamas to agree to a ceasefire and hostage deal ahead of a new round of talks in Cairo.

Israel is also wary of possible retaliatory attacks by Iran in response to the April 1 killing of an Iranian general.