Gaza Conflict: Fighting rages as Israel looks at new phase of war with Hamas

Ahead of a scheduled troop decrease in the conflict, Israeli tanks withdrew from some Gaza City districts on Monday while staying in others, according to residents. Nevertheless, fighting and heavy artillery continued in other parts of the Palestinian territory.

There are still many months left in the Gaza war, according to Israel, which has left most of the region in ruins, claimed hundreds of lives, and left the 2.3 million residents living in humanitarian misery.

However, an official from Israel stated on Monday that the military will withdraw its forces from Gaza this month and begin a months-long phase of more focused “mopping up” operations. This indicates an impending change in strategy from Israel.

According to the official, the troop decrease will free up units in case of a bigger fight in the north with Iran-backed Hezbollah in Lebanon and enable some reservists to return to civilian life, supporting Israel’s economy ravaged by war.

Since the beginning of the Gaza conflict, artillery fire between Israel and Hezbollah has shaken the border, and each fresh escalation bears the possibility of sparking a larger regional confrontation. Red Sea shipping has been targeted by fighters in Yemen who are backed by Iran.

Israel claims that 1,200 people were murdered in a surprise Hamas onslaught on Israeli cities on October 7, which set off the war. Over 21,800 people have been killed by Israel’s offensive in Gaza, which is controlled by Hamas, according to Palestinian health officials.

Due to the extent of suffering in Gaza, where the bombardment has forced nearly all residents from their homes, Israel is being urged to reduce its offensive by its Western allies, particularly the United States.

Following what they characterised as the most violent ten days of fighting since the conflict began, residents of Gaza City’s Sheikh Radwan district, in the northern portion of the territory that Israel’s invasion first targeted, stated that tanks had withdrew.

Additionally, according to residents, tanks withdrew from areas of Tel al-Hawa and Gaza City’s al-Mina district, while they held onto certain positions in the suburb that controlled the main coastline road into the enclave.

Nonetheless, there were still tanks in other areas of northern Gaza, and according to health officials, some residents of a southern Gaza City neighbourhood who were attempting to return home on Sunday were killed by Israeli gunfire.

Residents reported that fighting in the centre areas of the enclave persisted unabatedly on Monday, with airstrikes targeting al-Nusseirat, al-Maghazi, and the southern city of Khan Younis, with tanks pushing into al-Bureij.

After more than 12 weeks of fighting, Hamas demonstrated its ability to still target Israel by attacking Tel Aviv with rocket fire overnight.

(With agency inputs)