What happened
The Israeli military announced it was pulling back one of its main ground units from Khan Younis in southern Gaza, as protesters across Israel marked six months to the day since a surprise attack by Hamas militants prompted a full-scale Israeli invasion of the Palestinian territory.
Who said what
The Israel Defense Forces said Sunday it was making a "tactical" withdrawal after concluding its mission in the city of Khan Younis, pulling out its 98th Commando Division "to recuperate and prepare for future operations." Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said the move was tied to preparations "for the operation in Rafah," where more than one million Palestinians displaced by the war now reside.
The commentary
It's "hard to know exactly what" Israel's pullback means, White House National Security Council Communications advisor John Kirby said. It does appear "tactical rather than a sign the war may be moving closer to its end," said the BBC. While Israeli officials have denied international pressure prompted the move, the "timing was unmistakable," after an Israeli strike killed seven World Central Kitchen food aid workers, The Jerusalem Post said.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
What next?
Negotiations between Hamas and Israel continue this week in Cairo, with the United States readying a new proposal that will "demand a significant compromise" from both sides, Haaretz said.
-
October 4 editorial cartoonsCartoons Saturday's political cartoons include the Einstein files, defunding the police, and an odd tribute to Jane Goodall
-
Mustardy beans and hazelnuts recipeThe Week Recommends Nod to French classic offers zingy, fresh taste
-
Under siege: Argentina’s president drops his chainsawTalking Point The self-proclaimed ‘first anarcho-capitalist president in world history’ faces mounting troubles
-
Museum head ousted after Trump sword gift denialSpeed Read Todd Arrington, who led the Dwight D. Eisenhower Presidential Library and Museum, denied the Trump administration a sword from the collection as a gift for King Charles
-
Trump declares ‘armed conflict’ with drug cartelsspeed read This provides a legal justification for recent lethal military strikes on three alleged drug trafficking boats
-
Supreme Court rules for Fed’s Cook in Trump feudSpeed Read Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook can remain in her role following Trump’s attempts to oust her
-
‘This isn’t just semantics’Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
-
Judge rules Trump illegally targeted Gaza protestersSpeed Read The Trump administration’s push to arrest and deport international students for supporting Palestine is deemed illegal
-
Trump: US cities should be military ‘training grounds’Speed Read In a hastily assembled summit, Trump said he wants the military to fight the ‘enemy within’ the US
-
US government shuts down amid health care standoffSpeed Read Democrats said they won’t vote for a deal that doesn’t renew Affordable Care Act health care subsidies
-
YouTube to pay Trump $22M over Jan. 6 expulsionSpeed Read The president accused the company of censorship following the suspension of accounts post-Capitol riot
