Israeli military withdraws most troops from southern Gaza, says IDF spokesperson

The Israeli military has withdrawn all ground troops, except for one brigade, from the southern part of Gaza, said a military spokesperson, on Sunday (Apr 7), amid the ongoing war between Israel and the Palestinian militant group, Hamas. Meanwhile, an adviser to the Iranian supreme leader warned that Israeli embassies are “no longer safe”.

Troops withdrawn from southern Gaza

The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) havewithdrawn all troops from the southern Gaza Strip, said the IDF spokesperson, after four months of fighting in the Khan Younis area. However, one brigade, Nahal, currently remains in the Gaza Strip, reported the Times of Israel.

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An Israeli brigade is typically made up of a few thousand troops. According to the Israeli media, the brigade in question is tasked with securing the so-called Netzarim Corridor, which crosses Gaza from the Be’eri area in southern Israel to the Palestinian enclave’s coast.

The brigade is also responsible for securing the corridor to prevent displaced Gazans from returning to the northern part of the Palestinian enclave.

A report by Anadolu news agency citing Palestinian sources said Israeli forces retreated from all western areas of Khan Younis city and remained stationed in the east.

The Israeli army completed its operation in Khan Younis and soldiers have completed their exit from there, reported Israel’s Channel 12.

However, it was not immediately clear if the withdrawal would delay a long-threatened incursion into the southern Gaza city of Rafah where more than a million Palestinians have sought refuge amid the ongoing war.

Also Read |Israeli troops recover body of hostage from Gaza’s Khan Younis, military says

The IDF also announced the death of four soldiers in the southern Gaza Strip, on Sunday. At least 604 soldiers have been killed since the beginning of the war on October 7, and 3,193 others have been injured, according to Israeli officials.

New round of ceasefire talks to be held in Cairo

On Saturday (Apr 6), the Palestinian militant group said that it would send a delegation to Cairo, Egypt, for a new round of ceasefire talks which are expected to begin on Sunday.

Hamas has reiterated its demands which it issued in the March 14 proposal before the UN Security Council (UNSC) which includes calling for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip.

On March 25, a resolution calling for an “immediate ceasefire” in the Palestinian enclave and an unconditional release of all hostages held in Gaza had passed in the UNSC.

Meanwhile, an Israeli delegation is also expected to head to the Egyptian capital city, on Sunday for talks aimed at renewing the stalled talks with Hamas over the release of hostages being held in the Palestinian enclave.

No Gaza truce without release of hostages: Netanyahu

Israeli Prime Benjamin Netanyahu, on Sunday, said that Israel would not agree to a ceasefire until Hamas releases all the hostages being held in the Palestinian enclave.

His comments came at the beginning of a weekly cabinet meeting in Jerusalem where he also said that despite growing international pressure, Israel would not give in to “extreme” demands from Hamas.

Also Read |US on high alert over Iran attack threat in retaliation to Israeli strike on consulate in Syria

“Israel is one step away from victory,” said Netanyahu, adding that, “Hamas is the one preventing a (hostage) deal.”

Israeli embassies are ‘no longer safe’

Israeli embassies are “no longer safe,” warned Yahya Rahim Safavi, senior adviser to Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, as quoted by news agency ISNA.

This comes after Tehran blamed Israel for the attack on Iran’s consulate in Syria which killed at least 13 people in the Syrian capital city of Damascus, including seven members Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).

(With inputs from agencies)

Disclaimer: WION takes utmost care to accurately and responsibly report ongoing developments on the Israel-Palestine conflict after the Hamas attacks. However, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos and videos.