The Israeli Broadcasting Authority said on Friday evening that the army is preparing to move to the “third phase” of the war on the Gaza Strip in the coming weeks, which includes ending ground maneuvers.

The authority quoted unnamed sources as saying, “The Israeli army is preparing to move to the third phase of the fighting in Gaza in the coming weeks, in accordance with operational achievements.”

According to the sources, “The third phase includes ending the ground maneuver in the Gaza Strip, reducing forces, demobilizing reserve forces, resorting to air strikes, and establishing a buffer zone on the border between Israel and the Gaza Strip.”

Israeli Channel 11 reported that the third phase will also include “reducing the number of forces, forming a buffer zone, and continuing focused attacks” in Gaza, noting that the army is preparing to demobilize thousands of reserve soldiers soon.

The Israeli Broadcasting Corporation claimed that the army “took control of most of the northern Gaza Strip area, while facing great difficulties in moving forward in the southern Gaza Strip area.”

Big change

In turn, the Israeli newspaper Haaretz said that the army is already in the midst of deployment for the “third phase,” contrary to what decision makers announce, stressing that the various command centers are preparing for a “big change” next January.

It added that these changes are linked to the redeployment of hundreds of thousands of reserve soldiers due to the burden on the economy, soldiers and their families.

It indicated that the timetable is flexible due to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's political considerations, noting that the situation on the ground in Gaza "is not progressing at the pace we hear in political discourse."

Golani withdrawal

Israeli media reported on Thursday that the occupation army decided to withdraw the Golani Brigade from Gaza after 70 days of fighting in which it suffered “huge losses,” while other Israeli sources reported that the brigade’s soldiers left Gaza “to reorganize their ranks, catch their breath, and visit their families for a few days.” ".

The decision to withdraw the Golani Brigade from Gaza was followed by the withdrawal of paratroopers and armored forces from the Gaza Strip as well.

Israeli army statistics indicate that 784 officers and soldiers have been injured since the start of the ground incursion into the Gaza Strip on October 27, while Israeli media estimated the number of wounded among the army at about 5,000.

Source: Sama News