A view of damage to homes in Khan Younis after Israeli forces withdrew from the Hamad Town area. Getty Images
A view of damage to homes in Khan Younis after Israeli forces withdrew from the Hamad Town area. Getty Images
A view of damage to homes in Khan Younis after Israeli forces withdrew from the Hamad Town area. Getty Images
A view of damage to homes in Khan Younis after Israeli forces withdrew from the Hamad Town area. Getty Images

Israel withdraws combat troops from southern Gaza


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Live updates: Follow the latest on Israel-Gaza

Most Israeli soldiers have withdrawn from southern Gaza following the departure of an army division from Khan Younis, Israeli media reported on Sunday morning as truce talks resumed in Cairo.

The 98th division – composed of three brigades – left the southern city of Khan Younis on Saturday night, army radio reported, leaving only the Nahal brigade operating in the war-torn enclave where more than 33,100 Palestinians have died in Israeli attacks.

Nahal troops will remain in Gaza to prevent Palestinians displaced to southern Gaza from returning to their homes in the north, according to local media reports.

There was no official confirmation from the army, nor any additional details immediately available.

White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby told ABC News on Sunday that the US believes Israel’s partial withdrawal “is really just about rest and refit for these troops that have been on the ground for four months".

He said as far as the US could tell, it was necessarily "indicative of some coming new operation for these troops.”

Khan Younis has been the site of intense Israeli activity for months, including multiple raids on hospitals which killed patients, medical staff and volunteers at Al Amal and Nasser Hospitals.

The army said the months-long attack on Khan Younis "achieved what it set out to do," the Times of Israel reported, and seeks to emulate "intelligence-based" operations, which is how it described the recent raid on Al Shifa.

The two-week raid on Al Shifa completely destroyed Gaza's largest hospital and killed hundreds of people, according to Gaza authorities.

Sunday marks six months since the war began, sparked by a Hamas attack on southern Israel in which some 1,200 people were killed and around 240 taken to Gaza as hostages.

Israel's brutal response has killed 33,175 Palestinians as of Sunday, the majority said to be women and children, destroyed most of Gaza's basic infrastructure, and left millions of people facing imminent famine, according to the UN.

Another 75,886 have been wounded and thousands of others are still missing, presumed dead.

Israel called up more than 300,000 reservists as it invaded Gaza in late October, but began recalling reservist units from the enclave in January.

All reservist units left Gaza by late February, leaving only regular army forces fighting in the strip.

Shin Bet intelligence units have also been deployed to Gaza and participated in Israeli raids on Al Shifa, the army confirmed last week.

Israeli military divisions generally number between 10,000 and 16,000 soldiers, although they can number up to 20,000, while brigades are anywhere from 4,000-6,000 strong, comprising four to six battalions.

Israel has rotated soldiers in and out of combat since the ground invasion, pausing operations for some units to rest or train. The government has been under pressure to minimise the number of reservists sent to fight, amid mounting economic challenges.

The troop withdrawal could mean a ground operation in Rafah, a city where well over one million Palestinians are seeking shelter, is less likely, especially if the remaining brigade in southern Gaza will be tasked with controlling the movement of civilians, as was specified in the announcement.

Palestinians who had taken refuge in Rafah leave the city to return to Khan Yunis after Israel pulled its ground forces out of the southern Gaza Strip, six months into the devastating war sparked by the October 7 attacks. AFP
Palestinians who had taken refuge in Rafah leave the city to return to Khan Yunis after Israel pulled its ground forces out of the southern Gaza Strip, six months into the devastating war sparked by the October 7 attacks. AFP

The US, EU and regional countries have all warned that an Israeli attack on Rafah would greatly worsen the humanitarian crisis.

In January, Israel moved a large number of soldiers out of Gaza, but they were eventually replaced, although the overall number of soldiers committed to the war dropped.

Army spokesman Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari said at the time the troop rotation was to ensure forces "can be refreshed, the Israeli economy can function, families who are waiting for their loved ones can return to their routines".

Some observers say another reason for drawdowns is the build-up of forces on Israel’s border with Lebanon, amid Israeli warnings that it is preparing for full-scale war with Hezbollah.

It also comes amid mounting tensions with Iran following a suspected Israeli attack on Tehran's embassy compound in Damascus which killed several top Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps commanders last week.

The army cancelled leave for combat troops following the attack.

PROFILE OF HALAN

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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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Recent winners

2002 Giselle Khoury (Colombia)

2004 Nathalie Nasralla (France)

2005 Catherine Abboud (Oceania)

2007 Grace Bijjani  (Mexico)

2008 Carina El-Keddissi (Brazil)

2009 Sara Mansour (Brazil)

2010 Daniella Rahme (Australia)

2011 Maria Farah (Canada)

2012 Cynthia Moukarzel (Kuwait)

2013 Layla Yarak (Australia)              

2014 Lia Saad  (UAE)

2015 Cynthia Farah (Australia)

2016 Yosmely Massaad (Venezuela)

2017 Dima Safi (Ivory Coast)

2018 Rachel Younan (Australia)

Living in...

This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.

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Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.

The Byblos iftar in numbers

29 or 30 days – the number of iftar services held during the holy month

50 staff members required to prepare an iftar

200 to 350 the number of people served iftar nightly

160 litres of the traditional Ramadan drink, jalab, is served in total

500 litres of soup is served during the holy month

200 kilograms of meat is used for various dishes

350 kilograms of onion is used in dishes

5 minutes – the average time that staff have to eat
 

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Uefa Champions League, Group B
Barcelona v Inter Milan
Camp Nou, Barcelona
Wednesday, 11pm (UAE)

MATCH INFO

 

Maratha Arabians 107-8 (10 ovs)

Lyth 21, Lynn 20, McClenaghan 20 no

Qalandars 60-4 (10 ovs)

Malan 32 no, McClenaghan 2-9

Maratha Arabians win by 47 runs

Timeline

1947
Ferrari’s road-car company is formed and its first badged car, the 125 S, rolls off the assembly line

1962
250 GTO is unveiled

1969
Fiat becomes a Ferrari shareholder, acquiring 50 per cent of the company

1972
The Fiorano circuit, Ferrari’s racetrack for development and testing, opens

1976
First automatic Ferrari, the 400 Automatic, is made

1987
F40 launched

1988
Enzo Ferrari dies; Fiat expands its stake in the company to 90 per cent

2002
The Enzo model is announced

2010
Ferrari World opens in Abu Dhabi

2011
First four-wheel drive Ferrari, the FF, is unveiled

2013
LaFerrari, the first Ferrari hybrid, arrives

2014
Fiat Chrysler announces the split of Ferrari from the parent company

2015
Ferrari launches on Wall Street

2017
812 Superfast unveiled; Ferrari celebrates its 70th anniversary

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The low down on MPS

What is myofascial pain syndrome?

Myofascial pain syndrome refers to pain and inflammation in the body’s soft tissue. MPS is a chronic condition that affects the fascia (­connective tissue that covers the muscles, which develops knots, also known as trigger points).

What are trigger points?

Trigger points are irritable knots in the soft ­tissue that covers muscle tissue. Through injury or overuse, muscle fibres contract as a reactive and protective measure, creating tension in the form of hard and, palpable nodules. Overuse and ­sustained posture are the main culprits in developing ­trigger points.

What is myofascial or trigger-point release?

Releasing these nodules requires a hands-on technique that involves applying gentle ­sustained pressure to release muscular shortness and tightness. This eliminates restrictions in ­connective tissue in orderto restore motion and alleviate pain. ­Therapy balls have proven effective at causing enough commotion in the tissue, prompting the release of these hard knots.

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Updated: April 07, 2024, 3:37 PM`