Israel's 'tactical' withdrawal from Gaza

People inspect damage following Israeli airstrikes in Khan Yunis, Gaza

There are reports of "significant progress" as truce negotiations continue

(Image credit: Ahmad Hasaballah / Getty Images)

published 8 April 2024

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.

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.

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Rafi Schwartz has worked as a politics writer at The Week since 2022, where he covers elections, Congress and the White House. He was previously a contributing writer with Mic focusing largely on politics, a senior writer with Splinter News, a staff writer for Fusion's news lab, and the managing editor of Heeb Magazine, a Jewish life and culture publication. Rafi's work has appeared in Rolling Stone, GOOD and The Forward, among others.