John Kirby told ABC: “According to what we understand, and based on what they announced, it is actually a period of rest and recovery for his (Israeli army) forces who have been on the ground for 4 months.”
But the American official clarified that the Israeli withdrawal is not “necessarily” an indication of “an imminent new operation by these forces.”
Israel withdrew all its forces from the southern Gaza Strip, including Khan Yunis, according to what the army and media announced on Sunday, after months of violent battles with Hamas, which led to widespread destruction in the region.
The army said that a “large force” would continue to operate in the rest of the besieged Palestinian enclave.
An army official told the Haaretz newspaper: “There is no need for us to remain in the Strip without an (operational) need.”
He added: “The 98th Division dismantled the Hamas brigades in Khan Yunis and killed thousands of its activists. We did everything we could there.”
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