United States: John Kirby, the White House National Security Council (NCS) communications coordinator, responding to questions on Sunday, said that Israel told the US President that the reason for the surprise move was mainly because the troops needed relaxation and refitting.
Israel‘s military reported that the last division is now stationed in the Gaza Strip after the other troop left on its last day. The war correspondence indicated that it was just another step in the prolonging of the war instead of it being a temporary retreat.
However, the reasons why Israel decided to put an end to the conflict remain not fully explained.
What did the US National Security Coordinator state?
According to statement by Kirby on “Face the Nation” on Sunday, “The indications that we’ve been getting from them this morning is this is really largely rest and refit for troops that have been on the ground consecutively now for four months and they need a chance to come, to come out now,” as CBS News reported.
And, added, “What they’ll do with those troops after a rest and refit, I can’t speak to.”
However, while maintaining that he cannot comment upon the operations performed by a sovereign military, Kirby stresses that there is clear air between the US and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. According to Kirby, the US has stated clearly that it does not support ground operations that took place in Rafah, where people live heavily in the southern part of Gaza. Moreover, it is added that there is yet another option to go after Hamas.
Kirby stated that the US administration had a virtual meeting with the Israeli counterparts last week, with an expected in-person meeting underway “in the next week or so,” where the agenda is to discuss the alternatives.
Israeli Defense Force statements
The recent developments come into the picture after the current conflict between the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and Lebanon’s militant Hezbollah group is underway, as CBS News reported.
In a statement by IDF, it said that it had finished with yet another phase of preparation to strike down further along its northern border with Lebanon.
IDF stated, “Over the past few days, another phase of the Northern Command’s readiness for war was completed, centering on operational emergency storages for a broad mobilization of IDF troops when required … and their arrival at the front line in a short time with all the equipment for combat,” as CBS News reported.
Moreover, the Defence Minister of Israel, Yoav Gallant, on Sunday stated, “to prepare for future missions, including… in Rafah,” according to AFP.
The Israeli military had taken the force back after continuous and serious battles. “Hamas ceased to exist as a military framework” in Khan Yunis, which lies north of Rafah, where more than 1.5 million Palestinians are taking shelter.